Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Goa SCPCR initiated dialogue and conversation with the academic institutions in collaboration with the Directorate of Higher Education on 19th April 2023 at DHE on how to strengthen the system and policies and programmes for the protection of our children.
Introducing the subject matter of the collaboration to the head of affiliated colleges, Prasad Lolyekar, Secretary, Education and Director, Higher Education, thanked the Commission for collaboration and expressed confidence in support by academic institutions.
The meeting focused on how the contemporary issues in child protection could be integrated the same into the syllabus and practicums, providing opportunities for students to research Goa-centric child protection issues, thereby generating evidence and a body of knowledge in the context of Goa for policy and for effective programming in children’s rights and how academic institutions could engage with Commission and other child protection bodies in partnership project for mutual benefits.
Addressing the participants, Chairperson Peter F. Borges said that the protection of children is a growing concern today. A family, community, state, and citizen must ensure preventive measures to safeguard the rights of children.
He said that amidst the surge in crimes against children in the state, it has come to the fore that child protection in Goa is heavily compromised, with several gaps in the system not being addressed for a long time,
Further, there are no evidence-based programming and innovations to address contemporary issues related to children.
The care and protection of children in vulnerable condition are merely displayed as tokenism and needs to be more accountable.
He called upon the academic institutions, preparing professionals to work in social space to upgrade the syllabus and expose students to contemporary child issues during the formation. He further said that all disciplines also should instill volunteerism and values of social responsibility in the students.
