Pune: The state education department ’s slew of guidelines for all schools to ensure safety of students issued on Wednesday after the Badlapur incident came in for flak from activists. A govt notification on Wednesday mandated the education officer to set up a student safety committee in schools like POSH panels in workplaces within a week. All schools must install adequate number of CCTV cameras at strategic locations within one month.
Non-compliance will result in withholding of grants or revoking the school's recognition. The school’s management must obtain a character verification report from the local police of the persons appointed. Priority should be given to intake of women staff for students up to six years old.
But activist Mukund Kirdat, a member of AAP Parents’ Association, said there was nothing new in the guidelines. He added that the education department repeating instructions all over again seems like an eyewash. “We need to know how many of these rules are followed by the schools.
Many CCTV cameras installed by govt schools are not working. Fire-fighting equipment non-functional,” he added. Sheetal Dhekne, member of Pune District School Parents' Association, said children must be safe in schools and every individual whether in school or outside should take responsibility for their safety.
“Govt should do much more than just issue guidelines. Most of the time they remain on paper. Nobody knows how many schools follow them.
The school’s management.