Kerala schools see rise in POCSO cases as majority involve teachers

A total of 77 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act have been reported against employees in Kerala’s General Education Department, according to Education Minister V Sivankutty.

Among the accused, 65 are teachers and 12 are non-teaching staff.

The minister said that disciplinary measures have been taken in several instances.

“One employee was given a compulsory pension after completing the departmental proceedings, nine have been dismissed, and one has been removed from service. Disciplinary action has been initiated against 45 others. The rest are being dealt with on priority,” he said.

The government has directed that all POCSO-related disciplinary actions pending for over a year must be processed without further delay.

The Director of Public Education has also been instructed to ensure follow-up in cases where action is still pending.

In the Vocational Higher Secondary stream, three POCSO cases have been reported, involving two teachers and a laboratory technical assistant.

All three cases are currently pending in court, and departmental proceedings are in progress.

The minister also revealed that in the higher secondary section, 21 teachers have been suspended — 14 from government schools and seven from aided institutions. Of these, four cases are from the current academic year (2024–25).