Education Department Issues Advisory for Safety and security of children in schools

ANU(Chandigarhcitynews)

Safety and security of school children is of paramount importance. For ensuring proper / adequate safety and security of school children following directions/ advisory are, hereby, issued for strict compliance of Govt. Govt. Aided and Private Unaided Schools of UT Chandigarh, with immediate effect:

1. Principals, Heads of schools and Management of Private Schools shall be responsible for the safety and security of the students from the time of the arrival of the student(s) till the time student(s) leave the school premises. It is also made clear that whether school children are transported by buses owned by a school or by an independent contractor, the school management can not disown its responsibility regarding the safety of school children.
2. It shall be the responsibility of school Principal/ Head/ School Management to get the antecedents and character, duly verified, of all drivers, conductors, helpers, attendants, sweepers, gardeners and other staff from the Police Department. A compliance certificate in this regard shall be submitted to undersigned before 30^th September 2017.
3. CCTV Cameras shall be installed at all important spots (such as rest rooms, entry gates, boundary wall etc.) in the school premises, which should be in good working condition, alongwith provision of adequate recording/storage facility. A compliance certificate in this regard shall be submitted to undersigned before 30^th September 2017.
4. Entry in the school in respect of persons other than students, teachers and non teaching staff / personnel must be regulated so as to ensure that no unauthorized person is able to enter school premises during the school hours. It shall be ensured that proper record of visitors’ alongwith their contact details etc. is maintained.
5. Schools shall devise a protocol so as to ensure that drivers, conductors and other support staff are not given unrestricted access during school hours. Schools shall delineate well defined area within the school premises where drivers, conductors and other support staff of buses can enter and use.
6. In primary wing, only female sweepers / attendants shall be assigned duties as far as possible.
7. All the school must ensure that they have properly built boundary walls of adequate height in order to pre-empt entry of any unauthorized person, anti social element in the school. In case of any damage to the boundary wall, repair / renovation of boundary wall shall be carried out at the earliest possible.
8. Drivers, conductors, peons, gardeners, watchmen and other support staff shall not be allowed to use the toilets meant for students. Separate toilets shall be provided for such supporting staff.
9. The Principal/ Heads of School shall organize periodical orientation/ counselling sessions for drivers, conductors, peons, gardeners, watchmen and other support staff for their sensitization about safety and security of children.
10. Consultative process shall also be initiated with the parents in connection with the safety & security of the wards.