Follow student safety rules or face action, Delhi schools told

The Delhi government has asked all the schools to strictly follow the student safety guidelines and send the report to the Directorate of Education (DoE) regularly or face action such as “withdrawal of recognition” and disciplinary proceedings against principals.

The directions came in the wake of incidents of “physical, emotional and sexual assaults” on schoolchildren at school premises. The directive holds significance in light of the alleged rape of a minor girl at a school run by New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) premises in the national capital earlier this month.

The DoE in an order issued to all schools — government, aided and unaided — has said there was an increase in the number of physical, emotional and sexual assaults on schoolchildren.

“Despite serious endeavours by the government, other agencies and by courts, the schools also respond with only half-hearted compliance. In case of some recognised private (unaided and aided) schools, the status of compliance is even more worrisome,” said a communication sent to head of the school by the DoE dated August 11.

According to the circular, the “half-hearted approach” of schools towards student safety won’t work anymore as they must ensure compliance of the guidelines to ensure foolproof safety.

“The DoE shall initiate disciplinary proceedings against the heads of schools and estate managers if they fail to follow the tenets of student safety guidelines in word and spirit. Further, this directorate will be constrained to initiate equally severe action against the schools, including withdrawal of recognition in cases of repeated and deliberate non-compliance to pre-empt any untoward incident endangering the safety of students,” the order said.

The safety guidelines underline the constitution of School Safety Sub-Committees (SSSC) for all schools, monthly safety walk jointly by the members of SSSC and submission of online safety reports to the education directorate.

The guidelines were issued following recommendations from a high-level committee which was formed in the wake of the murder of a seven-year-old boy in a school in Gurugram.

The Delhi High Court had, in September 2016, taken a serious view of the safety of schoolchildren and had mooted the concept of self-inspection of school buildings by various school authorities.

The government had on August 9 ordered all schools in the city to immediately report to it about any untoward incident such as accident, violence, molestation or protest for quick action.

First Published: Aug 20, 2018 03:15 IST