Commission urges stronger school children safety measures in private institutions

Hyderabad: The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson, Sita Dayakar Reddy, told private school managements that education is not a business and that they must ensure school children’s safety at every stage. She spoke at a programme held on Tuesday at the Medchal–Malkajgiri collectorate. Commission members Chandana and Saritha also attended the event organised by the district education department.

Reddy said schools must treat children’s safety as their priority. Moreover, she asked management to provide all essential facilities and show the same care that parents show at home. She added that preventive steps matter more than action taken after incidents. Therefore, schools must address risks early and act without delay.

Commission stresses stronger school children safety measures

She said children need regular physical activity and must have access to safe sports areas. This, she noted, will help them stay physically and mentally strong. She also told schools to train staff on child-related laws and, additionally, ensure proper implementation. Committees must meet every month to review issues and resolve them. Even small lapses can lead to serious problems, she warned, and responsibility rests fully with school management.

Reddy referred to the recent assault on a schoolgirl and said such incidents should not recur. Consequently, she selected Medchal district as a pilot area to improve awareness among teachers and staff. The commission will monitor counselling support, safety systems, counsellors, CCTV coverage, vehicle checks and awareness of the POCSO Act.

Medchal additional collector Radhika Gupta said schools must protect children and pay special attention to their needs. She added that teachers shape a child’s future and cannot neglect any student. She also assured that the issues raised by school managements would be examined. District education officer I Vijayakumari, district welfare officer Sharada, district intermediate officer Kishan, private school association state president Shivarathri Yadagiri, Narsareddy and several school representatives attended the programme.