After Pradhuman murder, CBSE puts out child safety guidelines

The CBSE on Wednesday announced that the onus of safety of students on campus lies solely with school authorities. In the circular, the Board has directed the schools to install CCTV cameras, do police verification of staff, control entry in the school building by outsiders, among other guidelines, according to an ANI tweet.

The CBSE said this in response to a Supreme Court query in the aftermath of the murder of seven-year-old Ryan International student Pradhuman Thakur. On Wednesday, the board sent a circular on ‘safety of children’ to its affiliated schools, giving them two months to complete psychometric evaluation of all staff — teachers, non-teaching employees, sweepers, bus drivers and conductors included.

“Owing to increasing incidents involving safety and well-being of school children, the onus for safety and security of children on campus shall solely lie upon the school authorities,” says the circular, adding: “It is the fundamental right of a child to engage and study in an environment where he/she feels safe and is free from any form of physical or emotional abuse or harassment.”

The Hindustan Times states that there are 19,316 schools in India and 211 schools in 25 foreign countries under the CBSE. There are 1118 Kendriya Vidyalayas, 2734 government/aided schools, 14,860 independent schools, 590 Jawahar Novodaya Vidyalayas and 14 Central Tibetan Schools that follow the board.

Some of the other guidelines are:

a) The access to school building by outsiders should be controlled and visitors monitored.

b) To provide training and development for staff to address their responsibilities to protect children from any form of abuse.

c) The school shall constitute separate committees for redressal of public/staff/parents/students grievances, Internal Complaints committee on sexual harassment and committees under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offence) Act, 2012 and details of the these committees along with contact details shall be displayed prominently on School Notice Board and conspicuously on the school website for information of all stakeholders.

d) It is reiterated, that all schools affiliated with CBSE are hereby directed to strictly adhere to all the guidelines issued by MHRD and Board from time to time. Any violation/lapses with regard to safety and well being of children in school campus would invite appropriate action including the disaffiliation of the school as per the provisions under Affiliation Bye-Laws of the Board.