As the Delhi govt gears up to install CCTV cameras in govt schools that enables a parent to watch their children on real-time basis on their mobile phones, many have criticised the move calling it the 'Big Brother' scrutiny on children.
The parents will be able to watch their children studying in classes on real-time basis on their mobile phones, he said.
Real time surveillance of children may adversely impact their psychology, instilling in them a constant fear of being watched, critics have argued. It is also, many have said, a 'dystopian nightmare' that infringes upon a child's privacy.
The move also enables a constant scrutiny on the teacher's method of teaching which may be subject to various interpretations and suggestions. While one parent may endorse their teaching methods, other might object to it, thereby subjecting the teacher to vigorous scrutiny.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. As it is we teachers are open to unnecessary scrutiny by the parents in the form of parent-teacher meeting every month. Think what will happen if classroom is live-streamed. Each parent will have an opinion on how his or her son or daughter should be taught,” said a teacher at a posh private school.
“ Above all, students needs some privacy. In my school, there are CCTV cameras, but the live-streaming ends in the principal’s room. Over and above the principal’s monitoring and frequent admonishing through loudspeakers, the parent’s access to CCTV cameras will damage the child psychologically,” she added.
The progress of the project - to install CCTV cameras in schools - was reviewed by Kejriwal along with his deputy, Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, PWD minister Satyendar Jain, chief secretary Anshu Prakash and other government officials.
"Each parent will be given access to see his child studying in class on real-time basis on his phone. This will make the whole system transparent and accountable. It will ensure safety of kids," Kejriwal tweeted after the meeting Wednesday.
He said the process to install CCTV cameras in schools should start within three months, a government official said.
In September last year, Kejriwal had directed the education department to study the CCTV system in schools run by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to check if it could be implemented in government-run schools.
The move was spurred following the rape of a five-year- old girl at her school in Shahdara and the killing of a seven-year-old boy in a private school in Gurugram.
The education minister, secretary (education) and director (education) will have the rights to view any classroom of any Delhi government school through an app at any point of time, once the project starts, said the official.
An auto-complaint system will be put in place that will lodge complaints about the non-functioning of CCTV cameras.
(Inputs from PTI)
