‘Teachers can help prevent child abuse’

LAHORE: Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Zakria Zakir has said schoolteachers can play a pivotal role in sensitising children for prevention of child abuse as school is the most important institution to create awareness about child rights. He said there was a need to do a scientific research to train the schoolteachers to perform the responsibilities of curbing child abuse incidents.

The PU VC expressed these views while addressing a seminar on child abuse organised by PU Institute of Education and Research at Waheed Shaheed Hall. Faculty of Education dean Prof Dr Mumtaz Akhter, IER Director Prof Dr Rafaqat Ali Akbar, Hall Council Chairman Prof Dr Abid Hussain Choudhry, heads of various departments, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Dr Zakria Zakir said that teachers’ role in child abuse prevention and creating awareness among children about child rights had been neglected in the past. He said, "We don’t teach children how they could protect themselves and what were their rights." He said that efforts must be made to improve schools’ environment.