Gender Equality: Gone are the days of children saying sir and madam in schools, now they will address teachers like this

Gender Equality in Kerala: Adjectives like sir and madam are going to end for children to address teachers in schools. Gone are the days of addressing teachers as Sir and Madam. Now children will have to use only the word teacher while talking to teachers. KSCPCR has issued instructions in this regard.

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) directed all schools in the state to address school teachers as 'Teacher' instead of 'Sir' or 'Madam' regardless of their gender. The Kerala Child Rights Panel directed that 'teacher' is a more gender-neutral term to address them than norms such as 'sir' or 'madam'. The KSCPCR order also mentions the avoidance of addressing through words like "Sir" and "Madam".

A bench of Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) panel chairman KV Manoj Kumar and member C Vijayakumar on Wednesday directed the general education department to use the word 'teacher' in all schools in the state. The State Child Rights Commission also said that saying "Teacher" instead of Sir or Madam can help in maintaining equality among children of all schools and will also increase their attachment towards teachers. According to sources, the teachers were directed to consider a petition filed by a person seeking an end to discrimination by addressing them as 'sir' and 'madam' according to their gender.

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