CISCE asks affiliate city schools to set up CCTV in 15 days

The CISCE has directed its affiliated schools in the city and its neighbourhood to install CCTV cameras in their entire campuses within 15 days to ensure safety of students and staff.
The directive comes in the backdrop of the sexual assault of a nursery student in a prominent city school last week.
In a circular mailed to the institutions, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations said it was mandatory for all institutes to bring every part of the campus, except washrooms, under CCTV coverage.
"We have started the process of chalking out a comprehensive safety manual covering all aspects for affiliate schools which will be sent shortly. As of now, they will have to abide by the circular which specifically refers to the CCTV part," a CISCE official said here.

The circular said CCTV cameras should be installed in classrooms, examination halls, corridors, libraries, terraces, laboratories, staircases, entrance to staff room and washrooms, play fields, open spaces, parking bay where children board and alight from school buses or other vehicles.
The school authorities should also monitor the CCTV for complete safety and security of all its students and staff members, it said.

Nabarun Dey, General Secretary of the Association of ICSE Schools' Bengal chapter, and principal of a city school, confirmed having received the circular yesterday.
Asked if the circular would ensure foolproof security in schools, Dey said, "There is no such thing as foolproof. There is always scope for improvement."

There are around 100 ICSE-affiliate institutions in and around the city.
On Thursday last, a 4-year-old student was allegedly sexually assaulted in a prominent city school which led to the arrest of two PT instructors. CCTV cameras were not installed in the institute at the time of the incident.
Guardians also demonstrated outside another school here for the last three days alleging sexual abuse of a 3-year-old girl and a group D employee was arrested. The incident occurred months ago in the institute that already had CCTV cameras.