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Cuttack, July 25: Police will review security measures adopted by various private English medium schools towards the safety of children.
The move comes in the wake of a youth reportedly misbehaving with a Class IV girl student at a premier educational institution in the city on Tuesday.
Though no police complaint has been lodged either by the school or parents, the cops are now contemplating to discuss various issues to tighten security on school premises.
“We will shortly convene a meeting of school principals to review security measures taken by them for the safety of children on the premises,” said deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora.
At present, there are over 15 CBSE and ICSE schools functioning under the Cuttack Municipal Corporation limits, while most of the schools have taken a number of steps for the security of students following the rape of a six-year-old student in Bangalore.
Arora said all schools had earlier been asked to follow certain guidelines, including installation of closed-circuit television cameras at a meeting held last year.
“Keeping in view the Bangalore incident, we have cautioned our teachers as well as other staff members and asked them to remain more vigilant during the school hours,” said Ipsita Das, principal of CDA Sector-VI DAV Public School.
Sources said that though almost all schools in the city had installed CCTVs, it had been observed that low-resolution cameras were being used at entry and exit gates, corridors and few classrooms only.
Besides, a lot of parents depend on third persons, including autorickshaws and other school vans, to pick and drop their wards to various schools.
“We have decided to keep the photograph, complete address and details of the autorickshaws, and we are ready to co-operate with the police and the school authorities for a safer environment in and outside the school,” said Ajay Sahu, a parent.
Parents associations of various schools have also demanded strengthening of security and deployment of trained security guards to restrict the entry of outsiders.
“We will shortly ask the school authorities to take strict measures for the protection of our children,” said Ramzan Khan, secretary of the Stewart School Parents’ Association. Stewart School principal Asha M. Das said: “We have already issued notices to parents to introduce the person, who will take the child from school, to the class teacher and other staff members.”
