Horror in school
The extremely tragic incident of a child having been found murdered in a
prominent Gurgaon school has proved that there is need of safety and security for children within schools. Many
schools advertise their “world-class facilities” with hi-tech systems,
air-conditioned classrooms, Olympic-sized swimming pools, an International
Baccalaureate (IB) courses etc. But what about security for children?
A few months ago a child died in another prominent south Delhi school by
falling from a second floor corridor. And now a child has been murdered in a
bathroom within the school. Teachers and
school authorities are responsible for the well being of the child. In any
school, children should always be within shouting distance of a responsible
adult. A parent has the right to know
that the child will be safe with those that the child spends time with in the
school.
A bus conductor was accused of murdering the eight-year-old boy of Ryan International School in Bhondsi. He is in police custody. The father of the child suspects some past connection which led to the murder because there was no reason for the conductor to kill his son. Police needs to check the CCTV footages of past few days also.
The probe suggests the
murder was committed on the spur of the moment. But the murder took place
within 10 minutes which means the conductor was already prepared to kill the
student. As soon as the kid entered the toilet, the accused attacked him.
However, Education minister
refused to derecognise Ryan International School, and pointed to security
loopholes that led to child’s murder.
The questions that arise are: If the conductor has no criminal history
then how did he plan the murder? What instigated him to kill the child? Why did he
take a knife with him only on that day?”
The school is not coming forward and accepting negligence at their part.
They should accept their mistake and speak up. They should own up the blunder
and take measures to ensure safety and security of other students.
Protesters, demanded a
CBI probe into the murder and set afire a liquor outlet close to the
institution. Police resorted to lathi charge to control protesters near Ryan
International School in Gurgaon on Sunday. A three-member committee was formed
to probe whether any negligence or security lapses could have led to the murder.
The committee found several loopholes in the school’s security protocol. The
committee comprised the district education officer, block education officer,
and an official of district Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan. The committee has found that
toilets were shared by students and 40 bus drivers and conductors, no security for
students near toilets, porous school boundary, no checking system on entry
while the coverage of CCTV cameras is not comprehensive.
Action against school is being initiated under section 75 of the Juvenile
Justice Act. More sections may be added after the report is received. The state education department promised to release
strict guidelines for private schools regarding security and safety of
students. In fact, safety of the students would be responsibility of the
schools from time of picking them up to dropping them home. Even the Parents
handed memo to admin, demand security guidelines for schools. The parents
sought surprise inspection of schools and action against the Ryan authorities
“The schools should provide the
card pick-up facility for parents or attendants who come to collect the
children after school. The district administration will also conduct monthly
meeting with all school principals and parents’ representatives to address all
issues,” said sub divisional magistrate SDM (north) Bharat Bhushan Gogia.
He further said “Grievance cells will be formed in each and every school
to enable all issues related to students and school to be resolved within 48
hours. A group will also be formed where all principals and parents’
representatives will be able to discuss problems.”
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