Girls to take washroom break in pairs, says north body circular
Girls in North Delhi Municipal Corporation schools will be allowed to use washrooms in pairs only, a new circular by the north civic body read on Thursday.
“We have asked school principals to send at least two girls to the washroom at a time, so that in case of an emergency, one of them can raise an alarm. The students in primary school (till Class V) are very young and we don’t want them to be left alone,” said Preety Agarwal, mayor of North Delhi Municipal Corporation.
The civic body’s decision comes after an eight-year-old boy was murdered in Ryan International School, Gurgaon.
Experts, however, believe the new rules should been applicable for all students, irrespective of their gender. “The initiative is good and has already been implemented by some private schools. But seeing the series of incidents reported in the past few days, we think that young boys are equally vulnerable,” said SK Bhatta- charya, president of School Action Committee, an umbrella body for private schools in Delhi.
The civic agency has also decided to separate the toilets for staff and students so that no adult can use those meant for kids.
The school principals have been directed to ensure that no student is left alone with any outsider, even members of non-government organisations. Also, a register must be maintained for recording movement of all outsiders. The entry of guards and sanitation workers in the school premises should be banned after duty hours .
“The circular also advises keeping school gates closed, locking classes/areas not being unused, maintaining record of transport vehicles and checking all classes before and after closing of school,” said an official.