Representative Image of a school classroom.
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New Delhi: After an incident in a school in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar where seven students lost their lives following the collapse of roof, the Union Education Ministry has written to all states and UTs asking them to carry out a safety audit across all schools.
The ministry in a directive to all states and UTs has asked them to follow the protocols of safety, have adequate first aid resources and that children be trained in evacuation as mandated by the National Disaster Management Authority.
The ministry has also asked that states identify the accountable for exemplary punishment.
“The move was prompted by other such incidents, including one in Jharkhand and in a PMSHRI school in Madhya Pradesh last month where a girl got injured after the ceiling of the classroom caved in,” a senior ministry official said.
In its letter to chief secretaries, the ministry asked them to refer to the NDMA’s Guidelines on School Safety of 2016 as well as the ministry’s own guidelines from 2021.
The ministry said that as part of preventive measures, all schools and public facilities used by children must undergo safety audits in accordance with national safety codes and disaster management guidelines. “Structural integrity alongwith fire safety, emergency exits, and electrical wiring must be thoroughly assessed,” the communication states.
The ministry has asked that staff and students be trained in emergency preparedness, including evacuation drills, first aid, and safety protocols. It further said that collaborations with local authorities such as NDMA, fire services, police, and medical agencies be strengthened for periodic training and mock drills.
The ministry has also asked state governments to pay attention to psychosocial well-being of the children alongside physical safety through counseling services, peer-support systems, and community engagement.
The directive also asked states to report any dangerous situation, incident involving potential harm to young individuals within 24 hours to the designated State or UT authority. “Strict accountability should be fixed in cases of delay, negligence, or failure to act,” the directive states.