Child Protection Policy

We the Management, Staff and Collaborators of St. Xavier’s School, Bokaro Steel City, moved by the teaching of Jesus Christ and based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Commission for Protection of Child Right (CPCR) Act 2005 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012, and Hazaribag Jesuit Province Policy for Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults 2017 do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this policy on child protection. St. Xavier’s School is dedicated to recognizing, affirming and safeguarding children. Every child involved with us shall be respected, empowered and protected by all. All Jesuits, teachers and employees are committed to ensuring that the welfare of the child is always paramount and they will act in accordance with the policy statement.

The School is committed to:

• Ensuring that all programmes conducted by the institution are done in safe environment, free of neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
• Minimizing risk to ensure the safeguarding of each child by: (1) the use of proper code of behaviour for both adults and children, and (2) Operation of proper recruitment, selection, supervision and training of all teachers and employees

CHILD PROTECTION: CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

This Code is our guide on what is and is not acceptable behaviour and practice when working with children. It is an essential element of our Child Protection Policy and all staff members and collaborators will be expected to abide by it.
Staff members and collaborators will treat all children with respect
Ensure that the welfare of the child is paramount; promote and initiate programmes that adhere to the rights of children.
Treat the child with respect regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national/ethnic/social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
Physical, Psychological, verbal and sexual abuse is forbidden. Any suspicion of such acts should be reported to the designated officer in accordance with the School’s policy and procedures.
All physical contact with the children must be in response to the needs of the child, not the adult, and must be with the child’s permission.
Never do things for children which they are capable of doing for themselves such as washing, dressing and using the toilets.
Staff members and collaborators should never plan to be alone with a child in a closed space. Whenever possible, ensure that another adult is present when working in the proximity of children or use a room with easy visibility form the outside.
Do not spend excessive time alone with a child away from others.
Never invite unaccompanied children into anyone’s home unless they are at immediate risk or physical danger.
No information identifying a child should be disclosed
Gifts should not be given directly to a child and no gifts are to be received from children.
Ensure adequate number of adults are present to supervise children’s activities. Keep gender balance in mind.
Staff members and collaborators must never engage children in their personal work.
Children must always be asked permission before taking of any photograph/recording videos. No child must be recorded in any manner that makes them uncomfortable.
Erotic or pornographic material is never acceptable.

GLOBAL IDENTIFIERS OF JESUIT SCHOOLS

Jesuit Schools Are Committed To

• Being Catholic and to offer in-depth faith formation in dialogue with other religions and worldviews.
• Creating a Safe and Healthy Environment for all.
• Global Citizenship.
• The Care of all Creation.
• Justice.
• Being Accessible for all.
• Interculturality.
• Being a Global Network at the service of the Mission.
• Human Excellence.
• Life-long learning.

(Source: Jesuit Schools: A Living Tradition in the 21st Century – An Ongoing Exercise of Discernment; Published in September 2019 by the Secretariat for Secondary and Pre-Secondary Education, Society of Jesus.)