Abu Dhabi: The safety and well-being of schoolchildren below the age of 18 in the emirate of Abu Dhabi is ensured by a new Child Protection Policy, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) said on Tuesday.
The policy was developed by the education sector regulator in response to UAE Federal Law No 3 of 2016 on Child Rights, which was implemented in April.
In a statement, Adec said this unified policy has been designed to identify and support students who may have been subjected to abuse or neglect. It was circulated among both public and private schools at the start of the recent academic year in August, and includes instructions on how authorities can report any suspected case.
The policy stipulates clear definitions of what constitutes abuse or neglect. For instance, it states that the term ‘abuse’ includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse, as well as corporal punishment, bullying and exploitation. On the other hand, neglect is “the persistent failure to meet a student’s basic physical, emotional and/or psychological needs [that is] likely to result in serious impairment of the child’s health or development”. It involves the failure of a parent or guardian to take actions that are considered necessary to care for children, including but not limited to the provision of adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, health care and medical treatment, as well as the maintenance of personal hygiene, stimulation and regular school attendance.
The policy states that school principals must act as the guardian of all pupils while they are under the school’s care.
School staff
Meanwhile, school staff must inform the principal immediately if and when they suspect that a child has been abused or subjected to neglect. In addition, they must teach pupils to understand and recognise what constitutes abuse and neglect so that they can report any such instances they themselves experience or come to know of.
As has been the case, school staff and Adec employees are tasked with reporting all cases of suspected abuse and neglect by directly contacting the Ministry of Interior Child Protection Centre within 24 hours. They must also inform Adec on its dedicated telephone hotline and through the online reporting link.
In addition, parents and legal guardians must also play a role and answer all inquiries about pupils’ behaviour and academic performance, as well as respond to feedback and guidance. “School principals, staff, Adec employees and parents are all responsible for reporting suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. Protecting our children is the responsibility of the community at large. Anyone who suspects or witnesses any risk, harm or injury inflicted on a child, must immediately report it and without hesitation,” said Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi, director-general of Adec.
“This policy provides clear guidance on ways to protect children while [they are] in the school’s care, while they are travelling to and from school using school transport, and while they are moving between, waiting for, and taking part in all activities organised by the school inside or outside its campus,” he added.
In the meantime, all case reports and student information will be kept strictly confidential, including the name and identity of victims, the alleged perpetrator and the person who reports the case. Such data can only be shared with authorised Adec personnel and the monistry’s Child Protection Centre.
Dr Rishi Padegaonkar, principal at Bright Riders School, said the policy had been disseminated among school staff at the start of the ongoing school term.
“Good institutions already have these policies in place, but it is a comfort to all to see them formally implemented,” he said.
Jihan Nasr, owner of Abu Dhabi International School, said school employees had already been informed about the policy.
“In general, we conduct awareness sessions for pupils at the start of each term so that children are able to identify any forms of bullying or abuse,” she added.
Child Protection Policy
The school principal agrees to take care of all children under the school’s care.
School staff must inform the principal immediately if and when they suspect that a child has been abused or subjected to neglect.
School staff must teach pupils to understand and recognise what constitutes abuse and neglect so that they can report any such instances they themselves experience or come to know of occurring in or outside the school.
As has been the case, school staff and Adec employees are tasked with reporting all cases of suspected abuse and neglect, either by a perpetrator inside or outside the school, by directly contacting the UAE Ministry of Interior Child Protection Centre within 24 hours of suspicion. They must also report cases via telephone hotline (116111), and the electronic reporting link on Adec’s website.
If a child is in immediate danger (risk of serious harm), the police should be contacted directly using the 999 service, followed by reporting to the Ministry of Interior Child Protection Centre within one hour upon discovery. In addition, school staff must inform the school principal immediately.
Parents and guardians must answer all inquiries about pupils’ behaviour and academic performance, as well as respond to feedback and guidance that is provided.
There are also other guidelines on ensuring children’s care while they use school transport or participate in school-organised activities inside or outside campus.
