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Transportation and Associated Risks

By Rashmi Singhvi

The other area where children are prone to harm and injuries is transportation to and from schools. When a child commutes to school, safety precautions needs to be intact and practised, as the child is away from parents, school authorities and in the care and ‘supervision’ of bus drivers and conductors.
Parents and schools opt for multiple transport options for school children. The vehicles and the vendors need to comply with the safety rules and guidelines as laid down by authorities from time to time.

When a child commutes to school, safety precautions needs to be intact and practised, as the child is away from
parents, school authorities and in the care and ‘supervision’ of bus drivers and conductors
The safety of children in the school premises is also important and often neglected by the school management. Dilapidated buildings, under construction areas, haphazardly placed building rubble material, hazardous material can cause injuries, even death.

The Supreme Court in an order dates April 2018 had directed ‘framing of guidelines for fixing accountability of the school management in the matter of safety of the children studying in private and government schools within six months.’ The union Ministry of Human Resources Development, Department of School Education and Literacy issued draft guidelines in August 2018 ‘fixing accountability of school management towards safety and security of children in schools’.

The guidelines were drafted for primary, secondary and higher secondary schools. They aimed to fix responsibilities of the school management towards safety and security of children in schools. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) developed a comprehensive Manual on Safety and Security of Children in Schools – a compilation of various existing guidelines, circulars, notifications and Government Orders on safety and security related issues in schools.

These guidelines must also be implemented for pre-primary schools - playschools, crèche and nurseries to ensure safety of these young children. So for example handing the child only to parents or authorised person; installing CCTV cameras in the campus; mandatory police verification of candidates while appointing or hiring teachers, physical instructors, lab technicians, drivers, janitors and other support staff including the security; involving parents in decision-making; ensuring safety compliance in school buses and vehicles such as presence of first-aid box, fire extinguisher, windows with horizontal grills, doors with reliable locks and proper space to keep school bags; proper screening of the driver and attendant; formation of a grievance committee for child sexual abuse (CSA) to address cases of child sexual abuse should be formed by the school; etc. are some of the important guidelines that can safely be implemented for pre-primary schools and centres.

It is not important that the government, schools and parents work in close tandem to address the situation. Whenever there is a case of child abuse or an accident, a blame game starts between the executive, polity, administration, school management and stakeholders i.e. parents, etc. There is a need to fix accountability on schools, bring in regulations and working in close association and being vigilant.

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