Centre asks states, UTs to implement school safety guidelines amid violence, sexual assault cases

NEW DELHI: Amid the recent incidents of violence and sexual assault in schools across the country, the Ministry of Education has directed all states and union territories to implement the guidelines on school safety and security. The guidelines fix the responsibility of student safety on the school head and management and suggest zero tolerance towards negligence on their part.

Expressing “deep” commitment to ensuring the safety and security of school children, the union education ministry said that it has prepared the guidelines in line with the POCSO guidelines to “strengthen procedures, accountability and safeguard the students”. As per the rules, the school management will be held accountable and responsible in the safety issue of students studying in government, private, and other institutions.

The MoE guidelines provide measures for preventive education, accountability of various associates, reporting process, concerned legal provisions, support and counselling and safe environment. “These guidelines are crucial to accessibility, inclusiveness and positive learning outcomes,” it said.

“The guidelines had been circulated to all States/UTs/Autonomous Bodies of DoSEL and Stakeholder Ministries on 01.10.2021. The guidelines, which are advisory in nature, detail the accountability of various stakeholders and different departments in ensuring the safety and security of children in schools. States/UTs were informed that they may incorporate additions/modifications to these guidelines, if deemed necessary, according to the State/UT specific requirements and notify these guidelines,” the MoE stated.

Also read Uttar Pradesh reminds schools of ban on corporal, mental punishment; frames guidelines

MoE guidelines on school safety

According to the ministry, the objectives of these guidelines are:

• To create an understanding among students, parents, teachers, schools, and those concerned on the need for co-creating a safe and secure school environment for children.
• To make students, parents, schools aware about the acts, policies, procedures and guidelines already available on different aspects of safety and security such as physical, socio-emotional, cognitive and specific to natural disasters as well.
• To empower the concerned persons and enable clarity on their role in the implementation of these guidelines.
• To fix accountability for keeping children safe and secure in schools (including school transportation) on school management, principals and teachers in private, unaided schools, and head or in-charge, teachers and education administration in case of government, government-aided schools.
• To emphasize the ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ against any negligence on the part of any individual or management when it comes to the safety and security of children in schools.