Comply with student-safety guidelines or lose recognition: Delhi-govt warns schools
The Delhi government has warned schools in the national capital of withdrawal of recognition and initiation of disciplinary proceedings against principals if student safety guidelines are not complied with. Pulling up schools for "half-hearted compliance", the government said there's no respite in the number of various types of physical, emotional, and sexual assaults on school children - within school boundaries and outside. Here's more.
Schools respond only with half-hearted compliance, says official DoE order
"Despite serious endeavors by the government, other agencies and by courts...schools also respond with only half-hearted compliance. In case of some schools, the status of compliance is even more worrisome," Directorate of Education (DoE) said. "No wonder then...there is no respite in the number of various types of physical, emotional and sexual assaults on school children within the school boundaries and outside," it said.
Various types of assaults on school children on rise
"Such incidents (assaults on school-children) are on the rise. In such a grim scenario, it is felt that half-hearted approach won't work anymore," DoE's official order said. "If our schools are serious about providing foolproof safety and security to the innocent children whose parents trust us and...entrust us with the responsibility of their wards, then they must ensure compliance of the directions," it said.
DoE wants to inculcate confidence among students and their parents
DoE said it "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." "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...safety of students," it added.
Fresh guidelines focus on students coming to schools by private-vans
Last week, the Delhi government directed all city schools to immediately report to it about any untoward incident like accident, violence, molestation, or protest before it reaches the media so that quick action can be taken, ensuring no "embarrassment" to the Education Department. The government also issued fresh guidelines with a special focus on the security of those traveling to schools by private vans.
Guidelines follow recommendations from a high-level committee
DoE's directive assumes significance in light of the recent case of alleged rape of a minor girl by an electrician in an NDMC school premises. 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 Gurugram school and alleged rape of a five-year-old girl in a school in Shahdara.
