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School is the place where children study. It is their second home, where they spend a large part of their day. If this place is not safe, how will the trust of parents and children remain?

Many such incidents have happened in the schools of the country in recent times, which have shaken everyone. Somewhere, the dilapidated buildings of the school collapsed, somewhere children were injured due to negligence, and in some cases, innocent children even lost their lives. These accidents have once again raised serious questions about the safety of children in schools. Given all these concerns, the Ministry of Education has taken strict steps and has issued strict instructions to all the states and union territories regarding the safety of children. The ministry clearly says that now any kind of negligence will not be tolerated. No compromise can be made with the life and safety of children.

Why is safety so important in schools?

School is a place where children not only study, but also shape their future. This is their second home, where they spend a large part of their day. But if this place is not safe, how will the trust of parents and children remain? In view of all these problems, the Ministry of Education has decided that now safety in schools will have to be given the highest importance. For this, the Ministry has written a letter to the Chief Secretaries of all the states and has given clear instructions that the security system in schools should be further strengthened. The ministry has also said that the School Safety Guidelines of 2021 and the School Safety Policies of 2016 of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will have to be strictly followed.

Key points of the instructions of the Ministry

The Ministry of Education has emphasized many important points in its instructions, which are mandatory to be implemented immediately. Let us understand these points in detail.

1. Safety audit is necessary in every school

The first and most important step is the safety audit of schools. The ministry has said that a thorough investigation should be conducted of every school and public places related to children. Special attention has to be paid to many things in this investigation.

Building strength: Is the school building old? Is it strong enough to remain safe in an earthquake or other natural disaster?

Fire safety: Does the school have the necessary equipment to prevent fire like fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and sprinkler systems?

Emergency exit: If an accident occurs, does the school have emergency exit routes? Are these routes clean and ready for use?

Electrical wiring: Are the electrical wires in the school safe? Are there any open wires or faulty wiring, which can cause a short circuit or fire?

The ministry has said that these audits should be done from time to time and their reports will have to be sent to the state governments. If any school does not meet these standards, immediate action will be taken against it.

2. Training of staff and children

Safety is not limited to buildings only. It is also important to prepare the school staff and children to deal with accidents. For this, the ministry has given many instructions.

Emergency training: All teachers, staff and students should be given training to deal with emergencies. This should include complete information about what to do during a fire, earthquake or other accidents.

First aid information: At least some employees in every school should be trained in first aid. There should be immediate treatment in case of minor injuries.

Evacuation drills: Schools will have to conduct mock drills from time to time, in which children will be taught how to get out of school safely during an accident.

Coordination with local agencies: Schools will have to work together with agencies like local police, fire department, health department and NDMA. With the help of these agencies, security in schools can be improved further.

3. Mental and emotional safety of children

Nowadays, children are not only facing physical dangers, but also mental and emotional challenges. Bullying, stress or fear in school can harm the mental health of children. That is why the ministry has instructed schools to also pay attention to the mental health of children.

4. Immediate reporting system

The ministry has also clarified that if any accident happens in the school or any danger is seen, then the information will have to be given to the concerned authorities within 24 hours. If any school or employee is negligent in this, then strict action will be taken against them. For this, a strong reporting system will be created, so that the information of every incident reaches the top immediately.

Responsibility of the states

The Ministry of Education has asked all the states and union territories to take these instructions seriously. Every state will have to check the condition of the schools in their area and ensure that all schools follow the safety standards. The ministry has also said that from time to time it will itself take stock of the condition of the schools and if any deficiency is found, then the responsible people will have to answer.