CHENNAI: Corporation schoolteachers in the city are learning to identify and respond to symptoms of child sexual abuse.

In the first phase of a tie-up with Tulir, a non-governmental organisation involved in awareness and intervention campaigns in child sexual abuse across the State, 59 schoolteachers of 21 primary and middle schools in the Kilpauk Zone are attending sensitisation programmes on the issue. The primary target group will be fourth and fifth standard students.

Once the programme is completed,it will be carried forward to the other nine zones. Vidya Reddy of Tulir termed the Corporation's decision to create awareness on the issue as a "proactive step forward." The ideal "safe school" would reach out beyond academics and project itself as a caring entity, she said.

"Many people do not know the difference between abuse and harassment and exploitation. The big misconception is that only rape is sexual abuse. Sometimes even an inappropriate touch could be that."

Social workers were also fighting the notion that sexual abuse happened only in Western countries.

In a recent survey among higher secondary school students, Tulir recorded several instances of sexual abuse that were otherwise not known. Ms. Reddy said the programme would move on to include principals and vice-principals. Finally, school students would be taught "personal safety education."

"The students will learn how to conduct themselves in potentially difficult situations and escape abuse."

Tulir has published several books targeted at schoolteachers and students through a project funded by an U.K.-based aid organisation, "Save the Children". "Ultimately the intention is to institutionalise modules about child sexual abuse whereby students will be able to learn `personal safety education' modules in their regular curriculum."

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