JOIN USMany schools yet to instal CCTVs
Though the State government had set a deadline of November 30, 2014 to all the schools in Karnataka to install CCTV cameras for the safety of children in schools, not all schools have completed the task in Dakshina Kannada district.
There are 215 aided schools in the district, of which 47 schools have installed the CCTV cameras. Out of 295 unaided schools, 70 per cent of the schools have installed CCTV cameras. There are 954 government schools and a few have installed.
Following the sexual assault on a child in a school in Bengaluru, to step up security, the government had issued safety guidelines and made it mandatory for the schools to install CCTV cameras.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, DDPI Walter D’Mellow said, “I will convene a meeting of the BEOs to look into the progress of the installation of CCTV cameras in schools shortly. As the aided schools are lagging behind, I will also direct the BEOs to convene a meeting of the aided schools to impress upon them the need to take safety measures.
The private and aided schools have been asked to raise funds from alumni network or seek donors to sponsor for the work. “For government schools, we have asked the State government for funding as they can not afford it. Earlier, the aided schools were getting five per cent of the fund from the government as a maintenance fee. Now, they do not get any fund from the government,” the DDPI said.
The government had sent a circular to schools directing the installation of cameras before November 30.
Funds promised
“To install CCTV cameras in a school with 10 classrooms and at the main locations in the school, one need to shell out minimum of Rs 50,000.
The government had promised to release funds for the government schools to install CCTV cameras. We can not compromise with the safety of the children,” he said. However, a few unaided school teachers feel that the schools can not afford.
“With the education department reminding the schools to install CCTV cameras as soon as possible, many schools have asked the parents to donate for the purpose,” a teacher said on condition of anonymity.
“One can not achieve safety only through the installation of CCTV cameras. Many schools lack teachers and basic facilities. The government should give priority for appointment of teachers in schools and provide basic infrastructure facilities,” said the teacher.