Chennai: Ensuring a blanket ban on caste markers and caste-related conversations on school premises must be a top priority among teachers, chief and district education officers have informed schools under their jurisdiction.The instructions were issued in the wake of Class XI student Akilan’s death in Coimbatore, allegedly over caste discrimination. School heads were told to shuffle students’ seats weekly, remove caste references from names in attendance registers, and ensure that cycles and gadgets students bring to school don’t have any caste indications, such as ribbons and bands.“This is a recall of the directions issued last year, including hanging up posters displaying child helpline 1098 and the department helpline 14417 all around school campuses. Additionally, teachers have been told to counsel students on using social media ‘the right way’ and avoid posting defamatory content on the basis of caste,” a school head said, adding that usage of ‘Manavar Manasu’ complaint boxes must be encouraged.An official from the department said that district-level monitoring committees were in place to resolve caste-based issues among students. These panels, comprising chief and district education officers, district child protection and welfare officer and a police officer, are intimated whenever there are caste-based issues reported in schools. “School heads have been told to coordinate with these panels,” the official said.“We will hold periodic awareness sessions with school heads and teachers on the issue. Several initiatives such as moral classes and Tirukkural lessons are being implemented in schools,” Chennai chief education officer M Kabir said.Teachers have been instructed not to leave school campuses without signing the ‘movement registers’ to ensure that there is always an adult on campus to resolve conflicts.
