NEW DELHI: Safety deficiencies have been found in 774 of the 1,677 schools inspected across Delhi as part of a city-wide inspection drive under the Child Protection Month initiative, with private schools accounting for the highest number of cases, officials said on Sunday.According to a statement from Lok Nivas, the inspections were conducted between July 13 and 24 using a ‘Student Safety Checklist’ prepared in line with guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.The schools where deficiencies were found have been placed under corrective follow-up, the statement said.
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The inspection drive was launched following directions issued by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a review meeting on July 6.The two called for strict and time-bound implementation of Child Protection Month initiatives across the capital.The exercise covers government, government-aided, MCD, NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board and private schools.Of the 1,677 schools inspected so far, 790 were government schools, 812 were private schools and 75 were government-aided schools.Safety deficiencies were found in 270 government schools, 463 private schools and 41 government-aided schools, it stated.Safety deficiencies were found in 270 government schools, 463 private schools and 41 government-aided schools, the statement said.According to the statement, private schools accounted for a disproportionately high share of deficiencies compared to the number inspected and remain under close monitoring by the inspection teams.The inspections are being conducted by teams comprising representatives of parents, the Directorate of Education, the Women and Child Development Department, Delhi Police and heads of schools, it said.The teams are assessing schools against the prescribed safety checklist and identifying gaps requiring immediate attention.Schools where deficiencies have been identified are being directed to take remedial measures, following which verification will be carried out to ensure compliance rather than treating the exercise as “a one-time formality”, it read.The inspection drive will continue until all 5,633 schools in Delhi have been covered.The objective, the statement added, is to institutionalise child safety measures as a permanent feature of school functioning and build a sustained culture of safety, accountability and preparedness across educational institutions in the capital.(With PTI inputs)
