Education Ministry Mandates School Safety Guidelines Amid Rising Assault Cases

The Ministry of Education has mandated all states and union territories to enforce the ‘Guidelines on School Safety and Security-2021’ to improve safety measures in educational institutions amid rising sexual assault cases. The directive includes a requirement for regions to report on the implementation status of these guidelines. This action follows public outrage over several sexual assault cases in schools, notably an incident in Badlapur, Maharashtra, where two schoolgirls were allegedly raped by a staff member in a school toilet. This case has intensified civil and political scrutiny.

Developed by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), the guidelines align with Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) regulations and focus on enhancing school safety. They detail the responsibilities of school management in government, assisted, and private schools, including preventive education, reporting procedures, legal obligations, and support systems. The guidelines aim to foster a secure environment by clarifying roles and ensuring accountability at all levels, including school management, principals, and teachers, with a zero-tolerance policy for negligence.

Non-compliance with these guidelines can result in fines up to five percent of the school’s annual revenue, restrictions on new admissions, or even derecognition. The guidelines, developed following a Supreme Court order in 2021, address both physical and psychosocial safety concerns and were prompted by a 2017 student murder case.