Raising alarm: Govt initiates nationwide crackdown on school safety lapses

The Union government has directed all states and Union Territories to immediately carry out safety audits of schools and public buildings accessed by children, following a series of tragic incidents involving infrastructure failures in educational institutions.

In an advisory issued by the Ministry of Education, state and UT administrations have been asked to assess structural integrity, fire safety systems, and electrical wiring and ensure the presence of emergency exits.

The directive also calls for training students and staff in emergency preparedness and providing psychosocial support through counseling and peer networks.

This action follows the collapse of a government school building in Piplodi village, Jhalawar district, Rajasthan, which killed seven students and injured 28 others during morning assembly.

“These incidents related to preventable infrastructure failures and safety lapses demand immediate and concerted action from all responsible authorities and stakeholders,” the ministry said.

The damaged portion housed classes 6 and 7, burying about 35 students under debris. Rajasthan’s education minister Madan Dilawar has announced a high-level inquiry.

Similar cases have been reported elsewhere. In Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal, a portion of a ceiling collapsed at a PM Shri School last week, injuring two students.

On July 16, five students were hurt in Tamil Nadu’s Maduranthakam after part of a government school’s roof caved in.

A senior official from the Department of School Education and Literacy said, “We noted several unfortunate incidents claiming innocent lives in schools in the past few days. We have requested chief secretaries of all states and UTs to take strict action in this regard.”

“We have asked them to start acting immediately, and we will be following up with states and UTs regarding implementation of our recommendations,” the official added.

The advisory outlines five immediate actions, drawing from the 2021 School Safety Guidelines and the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) 2016 framework.

These include conducting audits, implementing School Disaster Management Plans (SDMPs), organizing regular mock drills, and reporting any safety incidents within 24 hours. Delays or negligence must lead to strict accountability.

The ministry has also urged communities, parents, and local bodies to remain vigilant and report unsafe conditions to ensure no child is put at risk due to avoidable infrastructure failures.