Hyderabad: After school tragedy, education department to launch shock raids

HYDERABAD: In a crackdown on schools across the city, the Telangana school education department will conduct surprise visits in schools to check structural stability. The decision was taken in a meeting held last week following the tragic incident at New Century Public School in Kukatpally which led to death of two students after a beam collapsed.

“The deputy education officers are instructed to visit minimum 20 schools in every mandal per month. They have to inspect if the buildings are structurally sound and whether there is any scope of hazardous events to occur. They have to check the structural stability certificates issued to the schools and submit a report by August 13,” B Venkata Narasamma, district education officer of Hyderabad told TOI.

The education department has decided to take stern action against schools which are running out of dilapidated or unstable buildings. “We don’t want the Kukatpally incident to be repeated. During surprise visits, if any schools are found running in dilapidated conditions or constructed of poor quality material, notices will be issued and they may face action including demolition,” said Narasamma.


Inspections will also be carried out at government schools as part of the exercise. “So far, we have identified four government schools which are lying in dilapidated conditions. Details of these schools are forwarded to Hyderabad collector. We have proposed repairs in few government schools,” Narasamma added.

Of the four government schools, one is in Nampally and other is in Sultan Bazaar. In order to ensure that there is no threat to students’ lives, the education department is now making an effort to shift existing students in other nearby government schools.

The GHMC has also instructed all deputy commissioners and assistant medical officers of health to inspect schools in their respective circles and issue notices wherever lapses are observed. The GHMC will inform the DEO and the collector about it.

TIMES VIEW: While the government’s move to inspect school buildings is an encouraging step, efforts should also be made to ensure that it doesn't turn out to be just a knee-jerk reaction to Kukatpally tragedy. A prompt action must be taken against guilty school owners.