DoE asks Delhi schools to conduct a safety inspection

The Delhi government's education department today directed all the city schools to immediately carry out an inspection of their premises to ensure there was no safety hazard for the students.
The move by Directorate of Education (DoE) comes in the wake of recent deaths of two students by drowning in septic and water tanks on the school premises.
"The heads of all schools run by government, schools of MCD and NDMC and private schools, are hereby directed to immediately carry out special inspection of whole school building and the premises, including roof-top and boundary wall, to ensure that there is no safety hazard such as open or uncovered sewerage tanks, water storage tanks, manholes, pits, loose or naked live electric wires or windows without grills, which may endanger the life of students," DoE said in a communication to schools.

While five-year-old Ankit Kumar died on January 27 after he drowned in an open septic tank in a MCD-run school at Kapashera, a Class I student of Ryan International School in Vasant Kunj, Divyansh Kakrora was found dead in a water reservoir of the school premises on January 30.
"If there is any potential hazard then schools should take immediate steps to remove them. Besides, there should be no broken pieces of glass, iron or wooden furniture lying in the staircase or passage which may hinder the free movement of the students," the DoE said.
Schools have also been asked to submit an undertaking that their premises are safe for students.

"After obtaining such declaration, all the schools will be inspected by special task forces constituted by the government to verify the situation and if any school is found lacking on any safety count, strict action would be taken against the principal or school management," the circular added.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had yesterday called an emergency meeting of the education department officials to review safety aspect for students in both government and private schools.