Now, monthly audit of security measures in schools across UP

In wake of the brutal murder of a Class 2 student in a Gurugram school, director-general of police (DGP) Sulkhan Singh on Tuesday issued an advisory to police officials to ensure a monthly audit of security measures in schools across UP.

The DGP asked officials to do proper verification of staff, drivers, conductors as per the norms of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

He said police officials were asked to appoint a nodal school security officer who would ensure monthly review meetings and maintain lists of staff and other people associated with schools. The visitors register should be mandatory in schools to keep check on people entering school campuses, added Singh.

The DGP’s letter reads that separate toilets be maintained for junior and senior students. He directed that CCTV cameras should be installed at every entry and exit point, corridors, swimming pool, washrooms, library and sports ground.

Besides, school authorities were asked to issue conditional passes to plumbers, electricians, carpenters and other people entering the campuses for any work. Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Lucknow, Deepak Kumar said he had already written a letter to the district inspector of schools (DIoS) for stern compliance of NCPCR guidelines in schools. Schools are expected to constitute parents-teachers association (PTA) with at least 75% parents (at least 50% mothers) and 25% teachers and the chairperson of the association should be selected from among the parents. He said the association’s term should be one year and every year new association should be constituted by giving representation to parents in rotation. The association’s meeting should be conducted every month and proceedings of the meetings be recorded.

The associations’ main aim should be to ensure safe, secure and developmentally appropriate environment for children in schools.