Patna, Sept. 16: An association of private schools has asked the district administration why it has not passed similar directions to government schools after two private institutions were shut down for the lack of CCTV cameras.
Patna district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agarwal on Thursday had ordered the shutdown of CBSE schools Gyandeep Vidyalaya (Phulwarisharif) and DAV Public School (Indrapuri) until CCTVs were installed on their premises. The direction came at the review meeting on security and safety norms for students in private schools of Patna in the wake of the sevenyearold Pradyuman Thakur's murder in a Gurgaon school.
The Bihar Public School & Children Welfare Association, which has around 30,000 schools under it, objected to the administration's action on the two Patna schools today, and asked why was the district administration not implementing the decision to install CCTV cameras in government schools too.
'We are not going to tolerate if a similar directive is issued against any more private school for lack of CCTV cameras. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) norms say that schools need to install CCTV cameras on their campuses and private schools will abide by it. But we have strong objections to the administration shutting down two schools just because they did not have the facility,' said D.K. Singh, the chairman of Bihar Public School & Children Welfare Association.
'Officials from the two schools had sought two days from DM Agarwal to install the CCTV cameras but he rejected them outright, and said the schools would not open till the cameras were installed. We simply want to ask the district administration and the state government whether only private school students require security measures or the ones in government schools need these measures too. Why is this directive not implemented in government schools? Why are government schools not shut because of having no CCTV cameras,' asked Singh.
The Telegraph contacted Agarwal for his response on the association's grouse. 'Private schools are supposed to install CCTV cameras on campus according to the written circular from CBSE. The Bihar School Examination Board has not issued any such order for government schools affiliated to it, so these schools are not required to have the cameras,' said Agarwal. 'Besides, the private schools charge the parents money in the name of providing security to the students. So they are supposed to install these CCTV cameras. In case CBSE schools don't abide by the CBSE directive, we will recommend them to cancel recognition to the institution. Also, if any incident is reported due to absence of CCTV cameras in schools, we would be forced to lodge FIRs against the school administration concerned.'
The private school association chairman also protested against the district administration's order to allow private bus operators on the school premises after school hours to pick up the children for home. 'The directive that the school management has to ensure the students' security till they reach home by the private buses seems illogical. We can provide security to the students for the six hours in school but once classes are over, how are we are supposed to provide them protection? It is the district administration's job. The administration shouldn't unnecessarily harass private schools. Otherwise, we will be forced to launch a campaign,' said Singh.
The association pointed out how action was being taken against private schools for lacking trained teachers when government schools equally lack teachers. The members also said the Unified District Information System for Education (UDise) was not being updated online by the authorities concerned for which the institutions face problem in further formalities.
Under this system, all schools have to provide information on their infrastructure facilities, number of students, teachers, and enrolment.
