Abuse is a tough issue to tackle

Protecting children might involve strong measures but we must also handle it delicately

Madeleine Mendy says child protection is an issue that deserves the full attention of school teachers. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Child Protection Law was introduced for a reason: to protect all children from all forms of abuse and neglect. The law, which took effect exactly a year ago, aimed to close the gap between home and school life by making the reporting of any sign of abuse mandatory for professionals who deal with children, including educators.

But the law was the first step; enforcement is another. Advocates say that there is more to be done to establish a supportive culture, even in schools. As The National reported yesterday, they say that although many schools and teachers take child protection seriously, some principals are failing to report signs of child abuse for fear that it could damage their reputation and discourage parents from enrolling children. We reported on a case of an abused boy who repeatedly complained to teachers about his mother's behaviour but the school did not pick up on the signs.

Reporting a case of suspected abuse is never easy. Although signs of abuse can be clear, there is always the concern of making accusations without sufficient evidence. One mistake or misread of the situation can affect the school’s reputation, and that of the parents and family. But this doesn’t justify not acting. It just means that schools have to delicately deal with such situations. As child protection expert Don Randall tells us, identifying abuse but not declaring it can be more damaging than reporting it.

Authorities have to work with schools to set up clear mechanisms to deal with suspected cases and ensure the smooth implementation of the law. This means, in the case of schools, making it as easy as possible for abuse reports to be made, and a clear procedure for investigating them. These mechanisms must recognise that most pupils will find it difficult to make a first move to speak to a counsellor, that teachers will be very wary to intervene and that some school officials may not think of the pupil first but of the reputation of the school. How the law is implemented will be the real test of its success.