Ryan Case: Haryana Govt And CBSE Frames Safety Guidelines For Schools

It is a matter of deep regret that it took the gruesome murder of a seven year old Pradyuman Thakur within the premises of Ryan International School's Bhondsi Branch and also the following day a rape of a five-year-old girl in a school in East Delhi that now finally we see that both the Haryana Government as also the CBSE have issued new safety guidelines for schools. This should have been done a lot earlier. The precious lives of these two children could have thus been saved from being destroyed. First and foremost, let us take a look at the safety guidelines which the Haryana government has framed for schools to be followed. Then later we shall discuss the new safety guidelines issued by CBSE.

While craving for the exclusive indulgence of my esteemed readers, let me inform them that the Haryana government has approved guidelines for schools operating in the state under which committees will be constituted at three levels to ensure safety of students. A major part of the guidelines cover safety of children in schools and while they are in the school bus. The recommended measures include installing of CCTV cameras at various locations in the schools, educating children about the concepts of 'good touch' and 'bad touch' and about the hazards of internet use.

For my esteemed readers exclusive indulgence, let me also inform them that details of the guidelines were submitted to the Supreme Court in a case related to the murder of an 8-year-old boy in Ryan school in Gurgaon. Filed by the victim's father, the petition wants the top court to lay down the elaborate guidelines for the security of children in schools. Additional Advocate General Anil Grover had handed over the copy of the guidelines to Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra's Bench and said the state was committed to provide a safe environment to children in schools.

Be it noted, as per the guidelines, the Committees would be formed at the district level, sub-divisional level and school level. The district level Committee will have general superintendence over safety issues of schools in their respective areas, the sub-divisional level Committees will check compliance of the rules, while the school-level Committee will be involved with the day-to-day functioning of the institution. This has to be implemented strictly in all schools.

To be sure, a district's deputy commissioner will head the area committee and it would comprise of 10 members, including commissioner of police or his representative, a civil surgeon, municipal commissioner and representative of private schools. This committee would take steps to inspect schools at regular intervals. They would make sure that the schools are adhering to all the safety norms prescribed.

To put things in perspective, the Committee at the sub-divisional level would be headed by the Sub-divisional Magistrate, Deputy Superintendent of Police, development officer or panchayat officer, block education officer and representative parents association would be members of the committee, which will ensure timely inspections and monitoring of safety apparatus in schools. To be headed by the school principal, school safety committee will be responsible for the execution and obedience of the safety regulations. As per the guidelines, school buses will have to be painted in yellow and should not have dark films or curtains.

Needless to say, besides having a valid licence, the bus driver should not have any previous record of traffic challans or offences. The guidelines also states specifically that children under five who do not use school bus must be picked up by an authorized representative from a designated spot inside the school. In case, a parent cannot pick the child, he or she must inform the teacher by phone or SMS in case there is no written communication.

Having said this, now let us also take a look at the new CBSE guidelines for schools. The CBSE has clearly maintained that the onus of keeping students safe within schools would solely lie upon the authorities. The new CBSE guidelines for schools are as follows: -

Close Watch

1. CCTV cameras should be installed on the school premises.
2. Security audit of school premises should be conducted.
3. Access should be limited to outsiders.

Selection And Training

1. Police verification is a must for all staff members.
2. Supporting staff should be hired via authorized agencies.
3. Staff should be trained to protect children from any form of abuse.

Panels To Be Set Up

Parents-teacher-students committee, grievance redressal committees and committees under the POSCO Act, 2012, among others.

It is noteworthy that CBSE also said that details on these committee, along with contact information, shall be displayed prominently on schools notice boards and websites. The notification said that, 'Children are spending most of their time in school. The concern of parents about the safety of school children is increasing every other day. It is a fundamental right of a child to engage and study in an environment where he or she feels safe and is free from any form of physical or emotional abuse or harassment'.

It also has to be noted that the directive on police verification very clearly stated that, 'Verification and evaluation for non-teaching staff such as bus drivers, conductors, peon and other support staff may be done very carefully and in a detailed manner.' Additionally, schools were also asked to constitute separate committees for redressal of grievances of the public, staff, parents and students. The Board also directed schools to constitute internal complaints committees on sexual harassment and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act, 2012. The CBSE also said that details on these committees along with contact information shall be displayed prominently on school notice boards and websites.

Speaking for myself, I feel that the following should be made mandatory for all schools -

1. Get psychometric evaluation of teachers and other staff done.

2. Get a 'security and safety audit' done of the school premises and all employees from the local police stations.

3. Install CCTV cameras at all vulnerable areas and points in all schools.

4. Hire all support staff from authorized agencies and maintain a proper record of such staff.

5. Train staff to protect children from abuse.

6. Constitute a parent-teacher-students committee to address safety needs of the students and take regular feedback from the parents.

7. Ensure safety of students in schools and during transit.

8. Ensure that no bus conductor or any other outsider is not allowed to enter school.

9. Schools to be made to pay heavy penalty if they are found to be violating any of the guidelines and derecognize them if any child dies or is raped or grievously injured due to sheer negligence of the school authorities.

10. Schools must inspect their premises at night to ensure that no outsider is living on campus without authorization.

11. Schools must also check all storage spaces for any dangerous items. Just recently we saw how when Manish Sisodia inspected schools it was found that during the inspection, dangerous tools such as hammer and saws were found in the cupboards and outsiders were found sleeping inside the classes. This should never happen.

12. Schools must conduct police verification of all the outsourced staff, including the security guards, sanitation workers and data entry reporters.

13. There should be no broken boundary wall.

14. Schools must maintain a visitor register and no one should be allowed to go inside without filling it up.

15. It should be ensured that whoever goes inside the school is checked so that no weapon can find entry inside the school.

16. Ban on fire arms and sharp edged weapons in the school premises.

17. Separate washrooms for students, teachers and employees.

18. Security should be provided at washrooms.

19. Identity cards should be issued to the entire staff.

20. Deployment of security at entry and exit gates.

21. Supreme Court orders dated 16-12-1997 must be followed. It states that -

(i) All the school buses are to be painted in yellow.

(ii) The driver's name, his license number, address, owners name and address, owners name and address, their mobile numbers, transport department's helpline number are to be painted and displayed outside the bus prominently.

(iii) Each school will have to appoint a Transport Manager who will be solely responsible for the security of children.

(iv) The buses are to be equipped with CCTV cameras and GPS system.

(v) Each bus should be accompanied by a school teacher, who will ensure children's safety till his or her destination.

(vi) Each bus has to be equipped with first aid and medical kit.

(vii) The schools will have to ensure that drivers do not use mobile phones while driving the bus.

(viii) The fitness certificate from the transport department has to be obtained for the buses without fail.

(ix) The schools have to construct separate toilets for the visitors and the ancillary staff.

(x) The schools will also have to obtain no objection certificate (NOC) for the safety norms from power corporation to avoid any electric fault.

(xi) The schools will have to seek NOC from the Municipal Corporation for providing clean drinking water to students.

(xii) Each school will have to maintain hygiene in its canteen.

(xiii) Also the boundary walls of the schools should be secured and should be made beyond reach of the intruders inside the school premises.

(xiv) Schools having swimming facilities, will have to employ a coach and life guard in its facility and state the guidelines issued by the district administration.

22. All schools must have fire fighting equipments and that too in working conditions so that whenever a fire breaks out it can be controlled.

23. CCTVs should be made mandatory not just in classrooms, washroom area but also in play grounds as well.

24. School bus must have first-aid box and fire extinguishers as well.

25. School name and telephone number must be written on the bus.

26. Doors must have reliable locks in buses.

27. Attendant from school in the bus must be present.

28. Parent/guardian or teacher can also travel to ensure safety norms.

29. Criminal case should be registered against the school management if any child dies or is injured grievously in the school.

30. Students washrooms should not be easily accessible to unauthorized persons.

31. There should be no shattered window panes of the washrooms.

32. Security guard must be appointed near toilets for minor students.

33. The boundary wall of the school must be complete and high enough so that no one can easily come inside.

34. There must be rest rooms available for the non-teaching staff in the premises.

35. Last but not the least CCTV cameras must all be in working conditions and should not be off under any circumstances.

I can cite many more but due to paucity of space, I have chosen to highlight just a few. Children are the future of tomorrow. Under no circumstances can their safety and security be compromised under any circumstances! It is good that finally Haryana state government as also the CBSE have issued guidelines to be followed by all schools. Now what is required is its strict implementation on the ground and not just on papers alone!