CCTVs, verification of staff mandatory in all schools

NEW DELHI: In the wake of the murder of a seven-year-old in a Gurugram school bathroom and the rape of a girl in a school in Gandhinagar, the Delhi government has directed officials of private and government schools to install CCTV cameras and to verify records of all non-teaching staff.

Speaking at a press conference after meeting with officials, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that officials have been told to also ensure that schools undertake a safety audit. He added that the schools must provide monthly reports to police on functionality of the CCTVs.

"They have been asked to submit monthly reports on steps taken for security and safety of students," Sisodia said.

Further, every school staff member will have to undergo mandatory police verification within three weeks, said Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio.

"In every school, rigorous police verification should be done of every staff, every person who enters the school premises within 3 weeks," Sisodia said. The police, he said, will share a list of known child abuse offenders with schools. "We have told everyone to refer to that list," he said.

He said schools will be required to submit details of the police verification on the portal of the Directorate of Education (DoE). They will also have to give details on the number of CCTV cameras installed.

Sisodia further said that the government will form a high-level committee, comprising education directors, the transport team, school principals, and police personnel which will create proper procedures and provide recommendations.

"The committee will look into all aspects be it transport safety or the conduct of the non-teaching staff and submit its recommendations within a month," Sisodia said.

He said if a CBI probe had been ordered, as he had demanded, in the death of a student last year by drowning inside a tank in the Ryan International School Vasant Kunj, the Gurugram incident could have been averted. "There are certain schools which enjoy political protection. The parents have to protest for fees and admission but safety is a very serious issue," he said.

Meanwhile, a senior official said the Delhi Police will carry out the verification process on priority basis.

"Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Bhairon Singh has been nominated on the high-level committee. We also urge schools to deploy sufficient security guards from recognised security agency only," said Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range).