In a first-of-its-kind move, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has put out a 14-point parameter that municipal schools will have to follow while undertaking repair work during summer vacation.
South Delhi mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat said unlike the past, when schools spent the repair funds the way they wanted, strict guidelines have been issued this time.
This has been done primarily to ensure that schools stick to common specifications, which in turn will ensure safety of students.
The Mayor warned that if any physical harm is caused to students during the course of their school time, the principals will be held accountable and may even be suspended.
The municipal corporation has ordered that all schools must have first-aid kits; electricity boards or any other switches must be out of the reach of students; window panes should not be broken and grills should not be sticking out in a manner that might harm students.
Keeping an eye out
The Mayor also ordered that CCTV footage in all schools will be inspected. For the remaining schools, CCTV cameras will be installed at the earliest.
“We will continue to do all that is required to make municipal schools as good as any other school in the city. We have set standards to maintain quality. I have also been an educator and know how important these basic facilities are in ensuring our future generations have a better tomorrow,” Ms. Sehrawat said.
₹4 crore sanctioned
The SDMC has sanctioned ₹4 crore to schools to undertake this task.
Every year during summer vacations, the corporations allow schools to undertake repair work. However, till now, the nature of work to be done was left at the discretion of the principals.
The south corporation has a total of 581 schools under its jurisdiction where around 2.85 lakh students study.
Last year, Ankit Kumar, a six-year-old student of an SDMC school in Kapashera, died after falling into an open septic tank.
