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Government ask schools to adhere to the norms regarding safety of students

Subodh Bhasin. Dated: 3/8/2018 11:10:55 AM

Subodh Bhasin
Jammu, Mar 7
It’s a known fact that as most of the schools are not concerned about the safety of students as such several times it has been noticed that several schools are flouting the guidelines, without taking the imitative for the safety of students.
In order to ensure safety of students studying in various private as well as government schools, government has issued circulars to the schools asking them to adhere to the norms laid down in the circular.
Taking cognizance of various reports and complaints regarding safety of school children during transportation as also boarding/de boarding arrangements manifested in overloading of vehicles carrying school children, non observance of traffic regulations, irregular parking of vehicles outside school premises, crossing over of busy roads in the vicinity of the schools by school children in a dangerous manner and often leads to fatal mishaps, the authorities have been asked to conduct regular inspections and take necessary steps as per the circular issued.
Pursuant to Supreme Court directions, circulars have been issued regarding safety of schools, guidelines have also been issued by the Traffic wing of J&K police vide U.O No THQ/PS-24/SOP/2016/443-50, Dated: 29.2.2016 and onus is casted on competent authorities to ensure that proper arrangements should be in place and accordingly committee comprising of Higher Secondary School Principal (Cluster In Charge), ZEO/ZEPO of various zones, along with representatives of JKBOSE and Traffic Department are entrusted to conduct inspection of private educational institutions with large number of enrolment or in crowded areas or near highways/busy roads and also school management has to be duty bound to facilitate the inspections with two representatives from amongst the parents who shall be associated in the process.
Further it is directed that every school shall display details of traffic management plan and boarding/de-boarding arrangements including detail of staff deployed for the said purpose on its website and also on the prominent space in the school building accessible to parents.
Taking a step further JKBOSE and Director School Education have been asked for giving wide publicity to these instructions and organize interaction at various levels with parents/school management/school children to sensitize them.
It is also notified that they shall also devise a complaint redressal mechanism to monitor the complaints received in this regard and to redress complaints thereof.
It is worthwhile to mention that the direction passed shall also apply to schools other than affiliated under JKBOSE (CBSE, ICSE etc).