Navi Mumbai Schools To Upgrade Safety Norms after 11-year-old's death

The education department of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has issued a circular to schools to ensure 14 safety measures after an 11-year-old died in a school toilet without CCTV coverage. The circular requires schools to install CCTVs, alarm systems, medical rooms, and other facilities to prevent such incidents in the future.

The circular was issued on Monday by Aruna Yadav, the NMMC's education officer. It comes in response to an incident that took place on July 17, 2023, at a private school in Navi Mumbai. An 11-year-old diabetic student was found dead in the school toilet. There were no signs of the foul play. 

The incident sparked outrage among parents and the public. They demanded action against the school management and the authorities. The parents also alleged that the school did not have proper security arrangements, medical facilities, or trained staff to handle emergencies.

What measures should be taken by school?

The circular lists 14 safety measures that schools must implement within a month. Some of the key measures are:

- CCTVs must be installed on every floor, at every gate, and in every classroom.

- Alarm systems must be installed near the toilets and labs to be used in case of emergency.

- Medical rooms must be available and staffed by qualified personnel.

- Toilets must have latches or magnetic locks.

- Fire extinguishers must be installed in every corridor, and staff must be trained to use them.

- Schools must have ramps and special toilets for disabled students.

- Schools must conduct annual audits of their infrastructure and electrical systems and post the results on their websites.

- Schools must provide information about their teachers and PTA on their websites.

The schools that have to comply:

The circular applies to all 343 private schools in Navi Mumbai as well as the 150 municipal schools. The schools have to submit reports to their respective ward offices about the compliance of the measures.

The education department said that the circular was issued with the intention of making every school self-assess their safety standards and take appropriate steps if they are lacking. According to reports, the department would also conduct its own survey to check if the measures were in place and effective.

Reaction to the Circular:

However, not everyone is happy with the circular. The members of the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) have questioned why the circular was released suddenly. They questioned the feasibility and accountability of the measures. They are demanding school officials obtain detailed reports from each school showing how they have fulfilled the safety norms.