Print media focuses more on child edn issues: Experts

Highlights

Telugu television channels dedicate only 2.50 per cent of their prime time on children-related issues and of this, about 19 per cent is on child education, according to experts. In case of the print media, of the coverage on children’s issues, 25 per cent coverage was on child education issues, they said.

A Unicef media round-table on Reporting on Education reveals panel discussions on TVs will not yield any result

Hyderabad: Telugu television channels dedicate only 2.50 per cent of their prime time on children-related issues and of this, about 19 per cent is on child education, according to experts. In case of the print media, of the coverage on children’s issues, 25 per cent coverage was on child education issues, they said.

This was revealed during a media round table on Reporting on Education organised by Unicef in association with the Centre for Media Studies here on Saturday. The study was done by the Centre of Media Studies Media Lab-Hyderabad on Telugu TV channels in 2014 and by a taking a one-month samples of a few English and vernacular newspapers.

The issues focussed by electronic media include implementation of Right to Education, lack of playgrounds, increased study hours, girl child issues, issues relating to unrecognised schools, lack of infrastructure and teacher training, budget allocation and success stories. In case of print media, implementation of schemes like the KG-to-PG free education, badi panduga, follow up on the PIL on lack of facilities in government schools, action against unrecognised schools in Telangana, suicide cases in junior/corporate colleges and private schools’ fee regulation in Telangana etc were focused.

During the round table, Unicef Hyderabad, education specialist Sukanya Subramanian said half of the time on TV channels was spent on panel discussions rather than on the developmental issues. “Such discussions will not yield any result,” she said.

Sukanya said the Right to Education Act would be successful only if quality was maintained. She advised the participants to explore the unexplored areas in the field of education.

The education specialist said it would take at least seven areas for the newly formed State to see some sort of results.

Unicef-Hyderabad Child Protection Officer M Murali Krishna lamented that the incidents like collapse of a popular Irani hotel City Light in Secunderabad might occur in several schools as they flouted rules by having kitchens on the second and third floors.

He advised the participants to bring out the inner aspects in the field of education. Network of International Legal Activists founder Mamta Raghuveer said a tougher Juvenile Justice Act was in the offing. With the new Act, punishment would be severe if a person indulged in corporal punishments.

She said the media was giving in-depth analysis with respect to some cases. She lauded the efforts of media in exposing corporal punishments in the schools.

“About 27 cases in Telangana and 12 cases in Andhra Pradesh were taken suo motu by the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights after the media reports,” Mamta said.

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