Guidelines on children’s safety for schools.

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Mangaluru:   A slew of  primery guidelines was issued at a meeting chaired by Mangaluru City Commissioner of Police S Murugan at the Community Hall, City Police Commissioners HQ March 17 Tuesday. School Management representatives, professors and teachers were present. The matter was speeded up after the molestation of a preschool child at Ullal.

The main points covered in the draft are: Male and a female attendants/staff  should  compulsorily be available in school vehicles to attend to picking up and dropping at their homes. Cramming more than the prescribed number of children as stipulated by the Transport Authority, is prohibited.

All school vehicles to be fitted with Global positioning system (GPS) and insure that the GPS is in working condition at all times.

The vehicle drivers must be in  possession of valid driving licence. Also, the background of the driver should be checked with the police station in the respective limits.

Two CCTVs should be compulsorily installed in the school vehicles and be in proper working condition. One CCTV should be installed inside the vehicle while other should be installed near the door of the vehicle, facing the road.

In case the school vehicle is a hired  one, management of the school should take it in writing that the vehicle owners will be solely responsible in case of any violation of rules and regulations by vehicle drivers. The RC, IC, FC and tax cards of the vehicles should be checked.

The school management should also take care to see to that the vehicle drivers do not leave their vehicles and do not roam about unnecessarily in the school premises or speak to the schoolchildren and not engage in other unwarranted activities.

Only concerned staff, teacher or supervisor should be present at the school ground, swimming pool, laboratory, library, dancing hall and gym. The entry of ’outsiders’ in these places should be strictly prohibited.

A lady staff should be compulsorily present in the school vehicles and should perform her duties till all the children are dropped to their houses.

CCTV s should be installed at all gates of the school (including small gates). CCTVs should be installed compulsorily at all classrooms, staff rooms, gyms, swimming pools and other necessary places (excluding wash rooms).

Swimming instructors and gym instructors should consist of at least one lady staff and one lady staff should be deputed as the supervising teacher.

Conducting of classes after 6 pm is strictly prohibited.

School day and other functions or events in the schools should end before 6 pm and all children should be sent to their homes.

The mobile phone numbers of class teacher, school vehicle drivers, staff, assistants and school headmaster should be provided to the parents of the students.

A students’ welfare committee, headed by the Principal should be compulsorily constituted at every school and meeting should be held every month towards undertaking of precautionary measures. The committee should have five lady staff.

Teaching and non-teaching staff, security staff and other staff should be informed on children’s rights, POCSO act, gender discrimination and related issues.   Security staff should be hired only from government approved private agencies. The background of the security staff should be checked with the police department.