Question : Security Audit of Schools

(a) whether it is a fact that the Government has formulated school safety and security manual which is
likely to provide right to the parents and other associated individuals to demand Security Audit of
the schools and if so, the details along with the salient features of the manual;
(b) whether the intended time within such manual is likely to be implemented throughout the country;
(c) whether the Government intends on putting the manual before public for their suggestions and
opinions and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the norms as to the establishment of CCTV, staff police verification, etc. if implemented
are likely to increase the burden on the school management;
(e) if so, whether the Government also intends to provide any aid to the school authorities in
implementing new guidelines; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) to (d) The State and Union Territory Governments have the direct responsibility to ensure safety
and security of students in schools under their territorial control. The Ministry of Human Resource
Development has issued guidelines in October, 2014 to all State/UT Governments for ensuring safety
and security of school children, including preventive mechanisms and procedures required to be put in
place in the schooling system alongwith relief and redressal strategies in case of any incident.
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has also suggested authorities at
different levels such as SMC, School Principal, School Management, Education Department and Boards,
to conduct safety audits in schools. NCPCR has developed a Manual on safety and security of children in
school setting.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued school safety policy guidelines
which were circulated to all States and UTs in September, 2017 for compliance. The guidelines provide
for conducting quarterly safety audits by the School Management Committee (SMC) in schools including
fire safety and food safety. The guidelines are in public domain and hosted on www.mhrd.gov.in.
Further, CBSE has issued a circular on 12.09.2017 directing the schools affiliated to the Board to
take measures such as psychometric evaluation of teaching and non-teaching staff, safety audit of
premises, CCTV monitoring, character antecedents verification, visitor management, training of staff and
setting up Internal Complaints Committee on sexual harassment and Committees under Protection of
Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act, 2012 etc. to ensure safety of children. For corporal
punishment, the Board has incorporated a provision in the Affiliation Bye-Laws of the Board for
preventing cruelty towards children. Under Rule 44.1 (d) of Affiliation Bye-Laws of the Board, the
school Managing Committee has been empowered to place an employee under suspension if “he/she is
charged with cruelty with any student or any employee of the school”. Rule 8.5 of Affiliation Bye-Laws
provides that the school should scrupulously observe prescription from the Municipal Authority/ District
Collector/ Transport Department regarding drinking water, fire safety and transport precautions in the
school. The Board has also issued comprehensive guidelines for safe and effective use of internet and
digital technologies including CCTV cameras in schools and school buses.
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan has issued a circular on 22.12.2014 to all KVs to take necessary
precautions including installation of CCTVs etc. It is mandatory for all KVs to implement School Safety
policy 2016 prepared by NDMA.
The detailed guidelines for ensuring safety and security of students in Jawahar Navodya
Vidyalayas have been issued from time to time including the guidelines for installation of CCTV in all
JNVs. JNVs are fully residential, co-educational senior secondary schools with separate hostels for boys
& girls. Female teachers working as Housemistress and Associate housemistresses look after the girl
students. Matrons are also appointed. Female employee is appointed on part time basis for cleaning girls
hostels. School level complaint committees and cluster level complaint committees are functional. At
headquarter level moral turpitude cases are dealt by summary trial committees.
(e) and (f) The Schedule to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act,
2009 provides for norms and standard for a school, which inter alia stipulate for all-weather school
building. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is the designated scheme to support States and UTs in meeting
the objective of RTE Act, 2009. Under SSA scheme, School Management Committees (SMCs) can avail
of training on all aspects of safety and security of children in schools. The guidelines on Food Safety and
Hygiene for School Level Kitchen under the Mid Day Meal scheme stress on the safety aspects of
procurement, storage and preparation of food items. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)
also provide for safe and secured school campus for secondary education. Under SSA and RMSA
schemes the Central Government provides financial assistance to States and UTs for elementary and
secondary education including school infrastructure.
*******