Expert talk on EMPOWERING FUTURE EDUCATORS THROUGH LEGAL AWARENESS

Expert Talk: “Empowering Future Educators Through Legal Awareness”

An enlightening expert session on the theme “Empowering Future Educators Through Legal Awareness” was conducted on 24th September 2025 at 2:30 p.m. in the Seminar Hall, Government College of Teacher Education (GCTE), Thiruvananthapuram. The programme was organized under the Forum for Social Justice and Democracy, with the aim of strengthening legal literacy among student-teachers and preparing them to uphold justice, equity, and responsibility in their professional journey.

The programme commenced with the welcome address delivered by Dr. Usha Rani, Assistant Professor, GCTE. In her address, she highlighted the significance of legal awareness in teacher education and emphasized how understanding the law enables educators to safeguard themselves and their students while promoting fairness within the school ecosystem.

This was followed by the presidential address by Prof. Dr. A. V. Sujith, Principal, GCTE**, who underscored the importance of nurturing teachers who are not only academically competent but also socially conscious. He reminded the gathering that educators must be aware of the legal frameworks governing educational institutions so that they can respond responsibly and confidently to challenging situations.

Expert Talk by Advocate Bhuvanendran Nair

The focal point of the event was the powerful session delivered by Advocate Bhuvanendran Nair, noted Advocate and Mediator. His talk was exceptionally engaging, insightful, and deeply relevant to the audience of future educators.

Adv. Bhuvanendran Nair is known for his calm, polite, and approachable manner, and this was clearly reflected throughout his session. His ability to simplify complex legal concepts made the session both educational and enjoyable.

Highlights of the Expert Session

He explained the importance of legal literacy for teachers, particularly in situations involving student rights, behavioral issues, disciplinary actions, and classroom conflicts.

He discussed key laws that educators must be aware of—such as child protection laws, educational policies, constitutional rights of students, and teachers’ professional responsibilities.

With practical examples, he illustrated how even small misunderstandings can escalate into legal concerns, and how teachers can act with clarity, empathy, and legal correctness.

He shed light on the role of mediation in educational settings, highlighting how conflicts within schools can often be resolved peacefully through communication and guided negotiation rather than punishment.

The speaker also emphasized the importance of ethical behavior, responsible use of authority, and maintaining a safe and inclusive learning environment.

His polite and respectful tone made the session extremely interactive, allowing participants to ask questions freely and engage with real-life scenarios.

The session left a lasting impact on the student-teachers, equipping them with knowledge and awareness that will guide them throughout their careers as responsible educators.

The programme moved towards its conclusion with the vote of thanks delivered by Sumi O. S., Department of Social Science, who expressed gratitude to the speaker, dignitaries, faculty, and student participants for making the event meaningful and successful.