Government orders urgent school safety audits

In wake of the death of seven students in a tragic incident in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar after a portion of a government school building collapsed, the Union government on Saturday issued a directive to all states and Union territories to mandatorily conduct audits of safety mechanisms and facilities for children in all schools.

The Ministry of Education in its directive has called for schools to ensure the structural integrity of school infrastructure, news agency PTI reported.

“States and UTs must take urgent steps to ensure students’ safety and well-being. This includes mandatory safety audits of schools and child-related facilities as per national safety codes, training for staff and students in emergency preparedness, and the provision of psychosocial support through counselling and peer networks," a senior official of the ministry said as quoted by the news agency.