Safety audits, installation of CCTV cameras, police verification of staff among board’s guidelines for students’ safety at school
Placing the onus for safety of children on campus solely upon school authorities, the Central Board of Secondary Education issued new guidelines on Thursday. The new directions include installation of CCTV cameras in vulnerable areas on the school premises as well as police verification and psychometric test of staff members. Schools that fail to implement these guidelines will face de-recognition.
CBSE took this step following the horrifying murder of a seven-year-old boy at Ryan International School in Gurgaon recently. The notification demands that schools must get their respective local police station to conduct a security and safety audit of their personnel as well as premises. The schools have to carry out these exercises and post an update on the CBSE website in two months.
The notification states, “It is the fundamental right of a child to engage and study in an environment where heshe feels safe and is free from any form of physical or emotional abuse or harassment…. Schools must constitute a parent-teacher-students committee to address the safety needs of students and take regular feedback from parents in this regard.“
The notification further mandates that the access to the school building by outsiders should be controlled, and visitors must be monitored. “Schools must provide training to staff and address their responsibilities to protect children from any form of abuse,“ it adds.
“Any violationlapses with regard to safety and well-being of children on the school campus would invite appropriate action including the disaffiliation of the school as per the provisions under affiliation by-laws of the board,“ the notification adds City schools have welcomed the decision stating such a move will ensure better safety for students on campus.“Installing CCTV cameras is a must in schools these days. We have installed the cameras. When we hire teachers, it is usually with reference of the past employer, mostly in writing. Apart from that, hiring people throught a trusted agency as well as conducting verification of people already working in the school will add to security measures. Providing safe environs to children is every school’s responsibility,“ says M PChandran, executive director of JG International School and trustee of Asia Charitable Trust.
Pragya Pandya, principal of St Kabir School, says such steps as mandated by CBSE improve the system and its functioning. “We never verified the background of non-teaching staff. Following the notification, we will do whatever is expected of us,“ she says, adding, “Schools must ensure that no strangers are allowed inside the premises during school hours to ensure that kids do not land in trouble.“
Redressal committees
The schools have been directed to constitute separate committees for redressal of public staff parents students’ grievances, an internal complaints committee on sexual harassment and committees under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offence) Act, 2012. The details of these committees along with contact details should be displayed prominently on the school notice board. It should also be posted on the school website for information of all stakeholders.
Other measures
Get cops to carry out security audit done of premises and personnel in next 2 months.
Install CCTV Cameras at all vulnerable points on campus, and they function at all times.
Get police verification and psychometric evaluation done of teaching and non-teaching staff.
Ensure supporting staff is employed from authorised agencies; records are maintained.
Set up parent-teacher-students committee to address safety needs; take regular feedback from parents.
Control access of school building by outsiders; monitor movement of visitors.
Train staff to address their responsibilities to protect children from abuse.
Source – Ahmedabad Mirror – 15th September 2017
