Bengaluru: The Department of Public Instruction has revised the safety guidelines for both private and public schools across the State and has directed all schools to constitute a safety committee compulsorily.
As per the revised orders issued by the Commissioner of Public Instruction Mr K .G. Jagadeesh, the safety committee will be headed by headmasters of the school and must have community engagement with the involvement of local police personnel, parents, teachers, senior local community members, staff from peer schools and subject matter experts based on the needs of the school.
The revised order has also asked all private and public schools to mandatorily to install CCTVs in every classroom and has barred students from changing uniforms in the campus.
Schools have been told to constitute anti-ragging committee at the school level with the involvement of local police personnel in the committee. Schools must mandatorily constitute the committee to check the sale of drugs around school campus as per the Karnataka Educational Institutions (Classification, Regulation and Prescription of curricula etc.) Rules, 2018 and under Sec. 35 of Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education.
Every school must have crisis management plan with complete evacuation plan in case of fire tragedies. School buses should not carry more than the specified number of children permissible but should carry a first aid box and a fire extinguisher. Schools have been told not to encourage children to take private cabs to school.
School authorities must allow police to file suo moto cases of molestation charges. There should be separate toilets for girls and boys, for teachers, and for support staff. The support staff has been told not to be allowed to use toilets meant for children. Staff managing toilets should only be female. No male staff should be present on school premises in support roles like toilet cleaners/ attendants.
Fire Extinguishers of ISI mark of adequate capacity and numbers should be provided in eye-catching spots in the school building. First Aid Kits must kept in schools to meet out any eventuality, emergency telephone numbers and list of persons to be contacted in case of any eventuality shall be displayed on the notice board and other prominent places in the school premises.
Lightning arresters must be installed in every school, all electrical wiring and equipment must be get inspected and if found defective will be replaced with ISI mark equipments. Building inspection and certification from authorized authorities is must for every two years.
