Police to book cases against schools failing to install CCTVs

Managements have sought six more months to implement order

With the last date for private aided and unaided schools to abide by a State government circular regarding safety of children in schools fast approaching, a majority of the schools are yet to implement the circular.

Management of private institutions, it is now learnt, have sought additional time to fulfill all the guidelines. However, officials of the Department of Public Instruction maintain that the recommendations in the circular should be implemented by November 29. Police officials said that there was a magisterial order to install CCTVs and to implement guidelines, failing which cases will be booked against school managements under IPC Section 188, after November 29.

Among the recommendations made in the circular, dated July 23, installation of CCTVs in all classrooms and school premises to capture all movements of students and staff, is mandatory. The school managements should also appoint two staff members to monitor and report the activities observed in the CCTV control room.

However, data from the department shows that out of the 398 private aided and unaided high schools in the district, only 47 have installed CCTV cameras. Of the 398 high schools, 130 are aided schools, of which only two schools in Mysuru South educational block have installed the same. Of the 268 unaided high schools, 45 schools, which include 30 from Mysuru South educational block and 10 from Mysuru North Educational block, have installed the cameras.

The scenario is similar in private aided and unaided primary schools, where only 125 out of the 586 schools have installed CCTVs. Of the 124 private aided primary schools, only 30 have CCTVs, while only 95 of the 462 private unaided primary schools have the facility.

Other guidelines
Among other guidelines issued in the circular, school managements have been instructed to register the names and addresses of teachers and other staff in schools, which require to be updated from time to time.

The guidelines stipulate the following: setting up Child Protection Committees, conducting workshops for children to raise awareness about sexual crimes, displaying phone numbers of Child Benefit Committee, District Child Protection Unit and Special Police Units for Children on notice boards and preparation of Child Safety Protection and Action Plan. Schools should also compulsorily display child helpline numbers in each classroom. Like installing CCTVs, a majority of schools are yet to abide by these instructions too.

School visits
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Deputy Director of Public Instruction, H R Basappa said that school managements have sought six months for the installation of CCTV cameras. “However, last date for schools to implement recommendations is November 29. In a recent meeting of the department in Bangalore, all DDPIs have been asked to push for the installation of the same,” he said.

He said that a three member committee, headed by Block Education Officers, will visit all schools following the deadline and verify whether schools have fulfilled the guidelines, he added.

Speaking about the guidelines at a programme in the city, Commissioner of Police, M A Saleem, said that the department had completed a survey of schools and school managements were providing information about the staff. “Some schools have even gone a step forward and asked us to a do a verification of antecedents of the staff. Police inspectors have visited all schools in city limits and have taken stock of the situation,” he said.

He added that such safety measures were essential, to prevent instances of sexual violence against children.