Education Ministry urges states to enforce school safety guidelines

The Ministry of Education has issued a directive to all States and Union Territories (UTs) to implement the “Guidelines on School Safety and Security-2021” to enhance the protection of children in educational institutions. This move follows directives from the Supreme Court in Writ Petitions (Criminal) No. 136 of 2017 and (Civil) No. 874 of 2017.

The guidelines, aligned with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, are designed to establish clear accountability for school management across Government, Government-aided, and Private Schools. Key



aspects include preventive education, reporting procedures, legal provisions, support services, and the creation of a safe environment conducive to learning.

The Ministry has requested States and UTs to provide updates on the notification status of these guidelines within their jurisdictions. The guidelines, which were initially circulated on October 1, 2021, and are advisory in nature, offer flexibility for States to tailor them to local needs. They stress a ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ towards negligence regarding child safety.