Safety guidelines have remained on paper for four years, leaving innocent children in schools most vulnerable to attacks - terrorist or any kind.
In short, schools hardly seem to be equipped to tackle a Peshawar-like attack.
In April 2010, the Union ministry of home affairs had issued 'Standard operating procedure for dealing with any terrorist attack on schools', which envisaged a number of guidelines, including three to four gates with 24-hour security guards, CCTV cameras all along the boundary wall, centralised alarm system, inspection of compound before opening and closing of school among others.
Schools in the city were issued a fresh set of directives by police to provide adequate security cover to students in 2011 as well. The police asked all schools to install at least two CCTV cameras at the entry and exit gates, contact number of the local police station and police control room displayed on the buses and issuance of two sets of identity cards for the students. The one ID card was to remain with parents/guardians who were supposed to pick up the student concerned.
On Wednesday, The Telegraph did a reality check at the schools regarding implementation of all such security-related guidelines a day after the Peshawar attack, which left at least 130 children dead. It was found out that very few schools in the city have taken preventive security measures.
While a few leading schools like St Michael's High School and Notre Dame Academy have installed the CCTV cameras at their entrance but many others like Don Bosco Academy did not have functional cameras. A security guard at Don Bosco Academy said work for installation of CCTV cameras has started though. Many schools like Loyola High School and Notre Dame Academy have not introduced the prescribed dual identity card system for ensuring safety of the students.
'We have CCTV cameras installed at the entry and exit gates but the security guards are not connected on any walkie-talkie sets. During the arrival and the departure of the students, mobile police vans are available outside the campus,' said Ramanuj Prasad, prinicipal, DAV-BSEB.
In the wake of the Tuesday Peshawar school massacre, the police have once again asked the schools to take necessary security measures, including installation of CCTV cameras, to ensure safety of the students.
Superintendent of police (city) Shivdeep Lande said the SHOs have been directed to visit all the prominent schools in their jurisdiction and study them properly. 'They should come up with a perfect map of each of the schools taking into account the entry and exit routes, nearest road or roundabout, nearest landmark, distance between the school and main road, number of rooms, size of playground, number of buses, the places where buses stop to pick up and drop students, number of students among others. Once we have details of all the schools, the police will prepare a security plan for each of them and the same will be given to the schools to comply with,' he said.
Private Schools and Children Welfare Association has also appealed to the schools to step up security measures. 'The association would ask the schools to take up all suggested security measures, especially installation of CCTV cameras. The schools would also be urged to provide the necessary training to the guards as well as the administration and students to defend themselves in case of emergency situation,' said Syed Shamael Ahmad, president of the association.
Sources claimed that the Union government has been repeatedly asking the states to step up security at the schools after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Sources claim that the aim of laying down guidelines for dealing with extremist attack on schools is to prepare them to counter such attacks.
As per a general guideline to prevent any easy intrusion in the school, it is suggested that school gates be kept closed immediately after the arrival of children till the dispersal of children begins.
Additional reporting by Joy Sengupta
