Student-Safety-Ebook

Description
Student Safety Ebook from JointViews


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INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 4
ISSUES & STATISTICS .............................................................................................................................. 4
Student Molestation ..................................................................................................................... 5
Terrorism and Schools ................................................................................................................... 6
Student Kidnapping ..................................................................................................................... 8
School Bus Incidents ..................................................................................................................... 9
School Violence ............................................................................................................................ 9
School Bullying ........................................................................................................................... 11
What is Bullying? ............................................................................................................. 12
Student Drug Abuse .................................................................................................................. 13
School Infrastructure ................................................................................................................. 14
School Hygiene .......................................................................................................................... 15

RULES AND REGULATIONS ..................................................................................................................... 16
Student Molestation .................................................................................................................. 16
Symptoms That are Warnings ....................................................................................... 16
Child Abuse Penalty ....................................................................................................... 17
Effects of Molestation .................................................................................................... 17
Terrorism & Schools .................................................................................................................... 20
Student Kidnapping .................................................................................................................. 21
Laws Against Kidnapping In India .............................................................................. 22
Kidnapping, Based on The Nature of Act ................................................................. 22
Punishment .................................................................................................................... 22
School Bus Incidents .................................................................................................................. 23
Direction of the Supreme Court of India for School Bus .......................................... 23
Latest Additions ............................................................................................................ 24
Standard Requirements for School Buses in India .................................................... 25
School Violence ......................................................................................................................... 26
School Bullying ........................................................................................................................... 27
School Responsibilities .................................................................................................... 29
Student Drug Abuse .................................................................................................................. 30

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Drugs in State Schools .................................................................................................... 30
Power of Teachers .......................................................................................................... 30
Disciplinary Actions ........................................................................................................ 31
Awareness is Always Important .................................................................................... 31
Laws Against Drugs In India .......................................................................................... 31
Punishment and Penalty ............................................................................................... 32
Classification of Drugs .................................................................................................... 32
School Infrastructure ................................................................................................................. 33
School Building Environment ....................................................................................... 33
School Compound ....................................................................................................... 33
Parking Areas ................................................................................................................ 33
Food Facilities ................................................................................................................ 34
Drinking Water ............................................................................................................... 34
Toilets .............................................................................................................................. 34
Waste Disposal .............................................................................................................. 34
School Hygiene .......................................................................................................................... 34
Mission .............................................................................................................................. 34
Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 35

STUDENT SAFETY INITIATIVES ............................................................................................................. 37
Student Molestation .................................................................................................................. 37
School Violence and Terrorism ................................................................................................ 38
First Aid in Schools ......................................................................................................... 39
Student Kidnapping .................................................................................................................. 41
School Bus Incidents .................................................................................................................. 42
School Bullying ........................................................................................................................... 43
Student Drug Abuse .................................................................................................................. 44
School Infrastructure ................................................................................................................. 44
School Hygiene .......................................................................................................................... 45


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INTRODUCTION
Even if we claim that our living standards have improved and technology has advanced to the
extreme, there is still one thing in question. And that is about the safety of our kids. There are dangers
lurking in every corner of the world and majority of the victims tend to be school children.
To most of us, Student Safety issues such as Molestation, Bullying, Kidnapping etc. are just news stories
unless or until something happens to a child we are close with. As a matter of fact, it is this same
negligence that provides numerous opportunities to wrong doers.
If parents, teachers and school authorities take the initiatives to do whatever they can to protect our
children, a great many of these incidents can be avoided. They should also strive to teach children how
to recognize and react to potentially dangerous situations. After all, students are the future of the
nation. Unless they grow up as physically and mentally healthy individuals, our nation’s future itself would
be in jeopardy. It may sound clichéd, but remember
“Prevention is better than cure.”
With this document, we try to create awareness in parents, teachers, school authorities and also
students regarding the most persisting issues faced by school students on a day to day basis. We then
talk about the rules and regulations that are in place to protect students from these issues. There are lots
of rules, regulations and suggestions for students’ safety, but unfortunately, a vast majority of people are
not aware of these. Finally, we have listed out initiatives taken/can be taken by government, schools
and parents for ensuring protection of our children. We hope this initiative helps create awareness in
parents, schools & students. Let this document also enable and encourage them to take all necessary
measures required to ensure Student Safety.
ISSUES & STATISTICS
There are many issues that school goers face every day and the impact of some may be worst at times,
shattering their innocence forever, which include:







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We are familiar with most of the issues school children have to face but what is the current scenario of
all these issues?

Student Molestation
India ranks 4
th
in the list of
countries with highest rape crime rates
and about 42.2% of the victims are
minors. News related to student
molestation isn’t anything new and most
of us choose to ignore it until it happens
to someone we know.
One of the latest cases of student molestation is the abuse of an LKG student by her seniors in a school
in Kerala. Even after the case was reported, the school authorities did not take any immediate action
against the senior students.
This event itself proves how schools, the
place which is supposed to provide
knowledge and security to students, are
not safe anymore. Circumstances have
changed and now, almost every parent
has that fear in mind until their child,
especially if it is a girl child, comes back
from school.
According to the National Crime Records
Bureau, there has been an increase in
crime against children in 2013, compared
to the previous years. It has been reported that cases of molestation have increased by 47.7% in 2013
compared to previous years.
These statistics have been taken considering only those
cases which have been reported. If we consider the
unreported cases well, the numbers will definitely rise.
It is a fact that in India, 1 out of 2 children under the
age of 10 faces sexual abuse. But, in most cases, the
authorities choose to remain silent. In fact, only a few schools report abuse, an even lower number
takes immediate action and only a marginal percent has student counsellors.

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Terrorism in School
The Peshawar school attack that happened on 16 December, 2014, where 9 militants of Tehrik-
e-Taliban Pakistan showered bullets at the students and teachers of Army Public school in Peshawar,
Pakistan, claiming 145 precious lives, shook the whole world to the core.
Schools would be the last place you expect a terrorist attack to happen. But unfortunately, it did
happen by the end of 2014 or we can say, it had been happening over the years, but we are unaware
of it.
Here‘s a list of similar attacks on school children, that had happened in the last 10 years:
Beslan school attack
On September 1, 2004, around 32 terrorists stormed into a school in Beslan, North Ossetia, Russia
and continued the attack for 3 long days, killing over 300 people, 186 of which were children.


Mortar attack on Iraqi school
On January 8, 2007, an all-girls school in Baghdad was attacked
using a mortar bomb, killing 5 girls aged between 12 and 16 and
injuring over 20 students.

Taliban attack on Malala
In October 2012, Malala Yousafzai, who fought for children’s
education in Pakistan, was shot in a school bus in Mingora area of
the Swat valley. Two more girls were injured in the attack. The incident grabbed worldwide
attention and Malala Yousafzai, who survived the attack, won Nobel Prize for peace for her work
to promote children’s education.


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Yobe School shooting
On 6 July, 2013, armed Boko Haram terrorists entered a government-run school in
Mamudo village, Yobe State, Nigeria, and opened fire at the students, killing 42 people.
Chibok school girls kidnapping
This was another incident that earned world-wide attention. Boko Haram militants kidnapped 276
girls on the night of 14-15 April, 2014, from the Government Secondary School in the town
of Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria. Days later, the terrorist confirmed that the girls had been
converted to Islam and married off.
Why do terrorists target schools?
Schools are chosen by terrorists to launch their attacks mainly because of the following reasons:
When beliefs of extremists are challenged

This could be one reason that can be stated in the case of Malala and Chibok schoolgirls
kidnapping. The terrorists condemned western education and they attacked the students when
they did not pay heed to the terrorists.

Schools are soft targets…

The militants have very few chances to win if they put up a gun fight with the armed forces of a
country since the military group is always equally or better prepared with arms and ammunitions.
Most schools won’t be prepared, making them prone to such attacks. Terrorists therefore use,
schools, which are lightly defended, as their targets to achieve their needs.

In the last decade, 1,147 educational institutions were attacked by terrorists in South-Asia,
followed by Middle-East and North Africa where 284 educational institutions were attacked. If
we take a statistics of South-East Asia from a period of 2004-2013, around 271 educational
institutions were attacked by terrorists , while in sub-Saharan Africa, the number amounts to 119.
During the last decade, a total of 67 educational institutes were attacked in other parts of the
world.

In the past 10 years, Pakistan is the worst terror-hit country where 724 educational institutes have
been raided so far. In Iraq, 184 educational institutions have been ambushed while in
Afghanistan, 205 educational institutions invaded. In Thailand, 213 educational institutes were
attacked so far. Out of the 562 educational institutions in other countries, that have been
attacked, Nigeria is the worst affected country, where the Boko Haram terrorists kidnapped
about 300 schools students during last spring.
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-most-horrifying-terror-attacks-on-schools/20141216.htm

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https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_Tg-1mluKz0aE-
U7usdy8DYxwI6IcMVTDxo2mmtGY4Y/edit#gid=686419060
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/12/terrorist-attacks-on-schools-have-soared-in-
the-past-10-years/383825/
http://www.killology.com/art_mass_slaughter.htm
http://www.crf-usa.org/school-violence/causes-of-school-violence.html

Student Kidnapping
The news of a child being kidnapped may occupy only a small column of a newspaper, which barely
gets noticed. But this situation is real and there are many parents in the country who are still waiting for
just a phone call to know that their child is alive, who wander around with a photograph of their child in
their hands and the sight is indeed heart wrenching. It is an undeniable truth that the cases of
kidnappings have only increased with passing time.
At least one child goes missing every eight minutes in India
and unfortunately, about 40% of them have not been
found. It is a fact that Indian schools provide less security to
students and most of them do not have any security
arrangements. That is the main reason that schools are the
best choice of criminals from where they plan to abduct a
child.
One of the recent cases of abductions is the kidnap of a KG-I student from
Maharashtra. But the police was quick enough to trace the culprits thus
saving the life of the 5 year old girl. However, not all children are lucky. In
most cases, whereabouts of some of the children remain unknown forever
while some end up being preys to the greedy motives of the kidnappers.
In another incident, a 4 year old girl went missing from the school premises
as she was waiting for her father after school. The victim’s father got a call
from the kidnappers, seeking Rs. 8 lakh ransom, while they were still
searching for the child. The girl’s fate is yet to be known.
Nothing much has really changed over the years and cases of student kidnapping have only increased.
School authorities and parents are the most capable to provide students protective measures which
can at least help avoid such incidents to an extent.


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School Bus Incidents
While talking about issues that students face, school bus incidents cannot be ignored. You get your
child ready to school and wave them good bye as they board the bus, to never see them again? It
would be heart breaking! There are lots of parents who grieve of having the loss of kids in school bus
accidents. Before we could sigh and exclaim “it’s all fate!” let’s think for a moment, couldn’t these
accidents be avoided? Yes, they could have been, only if the right measures were taken at the right
time. Unfortunately, not enough has been done so far.
One of the recent school bus accidents that took place in India was that of collision of a train with a
school bus in Telangana in July 2014. Twenty five students were killed in the mishap. While some blame
the railway authorities for the unmanned railway crossing, the over speeding and negligence by the bus
driver cannot be ignored.
This is just one of the very large numbers of school bus accidents happening in the country every year. It
is a fact that about 41% children die every year in transportation accidents in India. It has also been
reported that more than 70 children were dead and many more
injured as a result of school bus accidents since January 2013.
Also, more than 60 students were injured in 11 accidents spread
over seven states since January 2013 till July 2014. If necessary
actions aren’t taken, there would be a definite increase in the
number.
School bus accidents and mishaps happen around the world. For
instance, it was just few months ago that a four year old girl was
suffocated to death in her school van in UAE. Unfortunately, the child had fallen asleep in the bus and
the driver, without knowing that, had locked the van from outside. This was not the first time it
happened. There were about 5 similar cases reported in UAE in the past 10 years.
It’s time that authorities take measures to avoid such accidents in future and provide a secure journey
to students on their ride to school and way back home.

School Violence
Terrorism and other violence in schools tend to affect students mentally. A type of school violence is
school shootings, which is quite common in USA,
where the most recent incident happened on
October 24, 2014, when Jaylen Ray Fryberg,
a popular freshman at Marysville-Pilchuck High

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School, opened fire in the cafeteria, killing two students and injuring 3 others before killing himself.
About 90,000 children are admitted to hospitals every year due to injuries related to school violence.
Apart from these, students tend to face various kinds of abuses at school, which may leave permanent
scars in their minds, which include:
Physical abuse
According to a report by the United Kingdom headquartered Plan
International and Overseas Development Institute, School violence
costs India annually $ 7.42 billion, which when compared to
other countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jordan, Nicaragua, and
Peru, are much high.
Punishment of any sort by schools has been made illegal in India but teachers still use it. 90% of the
punishment involves hitting using sticks or similar objects, making students stand in various positions for
long periods of time or tying them to tables or chairs or objects of the sort.
Sexual abuse
There had been many cases of sexual abuse in schools reported so far where students were
inappropriately touched or groped or even sexually assaulted by senior students, teachers or other
employees of the school. The recent case in India where a minor girl was molested by her physical
education teacher in a school in Bangalore city is an example. Sometimes, such cases go unreported
since students fear to discuss about it.
150 million girls and 73 million boys around the world
have been subjected to sexual violence in schools.
Unsafe touches by doctors on students of illness are
also common. CHILDLINE India Foundation (CIF) has
found that though 53 per cent of Indian children
experience sexual abuse, the reporting is extremely low
since information about the possibility of abuse isn't
imparted to children.
Emotional abuse
Teasing, threatening, isolation, public humiliation and various other acts of the kind can be categorized
as emotional abuse. Emotional abuse is far more dangerous than physical abuse since the victims tend
to become suicidal at the end.
In India, about 25-60% students have been reportedly subjected to verbal abuse.

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Now, how do the students prone to all these types of violence suffer?
Such students’ experience
Depression and anxiety
Loss of interest in activities
Loss of appetite
Health complaints
Drop in grades and school participation
The students who are subjected to bullying may retaliate violently during some occasions, or they may
even refuse to go back to school.
The recent incident in Kerala, India where the principal locked a 4-year old boy in a dog kennel in the
school premises for talking in class proves that atrocities against students in schools still happen and
should be put to an end with strict rules. (It is better avoided as this case in under trial)
http://www.ehow.com/info_7824770_types-violence-school.html
https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-school-violence
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/schoolviolence/data_stats.html
http://www.npr.org/2012/03/16/148758783/violence-in-schools-how-big-a-problem-is-it
http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2015/01/13/376720559/grieving-in-the-classroom
http://www.ehow.com/info_7824770_types-violence-school.html
http://www.sify.com/news/school-violence-costs-india-yearly-us-7-42-billion-news-international-
kk0rasfjfbfsi.html

School Bullying
When your child refuses to go to school, instead of being angry with them and threatening them, do
you take a minute to ponder over what is causing them to skip school? No, you won’t, until anything
unfortunate happens.
Selma M was doing his fifth grade when he started gaining weight without any reason. He was made
fun of his physical appearance since then. Now he is 26, even today he remembers those dark chapters
of his life when he was subjected to bullying. He was treated differently for a reason he was not

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responsible for. The scar that has been left in his mind has not recovered even after years. This is not the
story of Selma alone; many others have experienced similar situations.
Verbal bullying has extended to physical abuse in many cases.
There are situations when the child begs to their parents not to complain to the concerned authorities
about the bullying they face in school because the child fears that the complaint can cause much
more damage. As a matter of fact, the tendency of violence prevails even in students in KG.
There were incidents in which the outrageous parents, fed up with the insensitive school authority took
the matter in their own hands. In a fit of anger, a father pulled out the bully from his class and slapped
him in return of the injuries his child had to bear.
Children in fear of facing bullying, tend to escape from classes by making excuses like sickness in a
hope of running away from the problem. The mental pressure developed due to these bullying incidents
sometimes results in psychological complications of the victim which lasts for a lifetime.
Each and every child is precious. They are unique and special and the difference should be
appreciated and respected. But what happens when children are isolated for their indifference? Away
from happiness and confidence, they live a shattered life. Children feel left alone and start hating
themselves for the factors that makes them different from others. Bullying has become a common
occurrence in schools, but the psychological pressure it inserts upon the students can result adversely.
The feeling of acceptance can make a lot of difference. There are a lot of children who experience this
vicious behaviour. You can’t just leave your child to face these circumstances alone, they should be
protected, and the feeling of being protected can make things better.
What is bullying?
Bullying happens when someone continuously hurts, frightens and threatens another person personally
or with a gang. Given below are some of the bullying behaviours:
• Hitting the other person, kicking pushing or physically hurting
• Damaging other persons things purposely or stealing
• Threatening with a gang
• Teasing someone in the most personal way very hurtfully
• Spreading unnecessary gossips and rumours about someone
• Insulting on the basis of race, gender or family background
• Sexual harassment

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Up to 25% of students in India have been subjected to bullying. Out of the 25% of students, who are
reported to have been bullied, 13% had considered suicide.
Reports state that bullying rates in co-educational schools are relatively twice more compared to girls
schools or boys schools. The bullying rates can differ with grades as well. If it is 13% in the 3
rd
grade, in
the 6
th
grade, the bullying rates go up to 46%. Also, most of the bullying cases are reported from
classes having maximum number of retained students.
A recent incident that happened in India is a perfect example of how bullying can affect a student
mentally. A minister’s son, who is a class 9 student, attempted suicide as a result of bullying by his seniors.
It has been reported that the boy was harassed and there
was a suspected throttling by seniors.
For most of us, the word “bullying” just means physical
abuse. Yes, physical abuse contributes to 5% of the
bullying reported in Indian schools. But nowadays,
advancement in technology has given rise to new types
of bullying. Bullying can be
Verbal: teasing and name calling
Social: spreading rumours, purposely exclude from groups
Physical: Hitting, punching
Cyber: through Internet and mobile phones
Cyber bullying is kind of new and usually, the victims are tech savvy teenagers. Majority of the suicide
cases due to bullying in India are mainly because of cyber bullying. Cyber bullying can shatter the
confidence in children and let them fall prey to depression if not
taken care of.

Student drug abuse
At present, when anything is available to children, it won’t be
difficult for them to have access to substances such as drugs and
alcohol. According to the reports, substance abuse rates have
increased with time in India, most of the addicts being teenagers,
aged between 15 and 19 years. They seem to be addicted to
alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, heroin, inhalants and inject able
substances.

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It has been found out that 28.6% of boys are addicted to tobacco while 15% are addicted to
alcohol. If you thought boys were the only victims to substance abuse, you are wrong. About 5.5% of
girls are tobacco addicts while 4% are addicted to alcohol. Availability of substances near schools
and in the Internet is the main reason for rise in its consumption.
Another shocking fact that has been reported recently is that most of the students started their
substance abuse from glue, paints and whiteners which are cheap and are easily available to children.
Mostly, parents and school authorities may not be aware of whether a child is addicted to substances.
But, the longer it takes to get recognized, the issue becomes much more dangerous. Addiction to
substances can lead to behavioural changes in children. In order to obtain money to buy the
substances, children may turn to committing criminal offences. Also, there are chances for the students
to start distributing substances in school, thus adding other students to the group of addicts. Only strong
measures can stop drug abuse in students.

School infrastructure issues
Can you believe that in a progressing country like India, most schools do
not have proper infrastructure facilities even now? Sadly, it is the truth and
those mostly suffering from the set back are students going to government
schools. Even though the Right to Education (RTE) Act was implemented
two years ago, the condition of about 95% of the schools in India remains the same.
Forget the buildings and classrooms, in fact, 1 out of 10 schools lack drinking
water facilities for students. 40% of the schools do not have any toilet
facilities while another 40% do not have separate toilet facilities for girls.
More than 25 states out
of 29 in India do not have
appropriate toilets for girls in
their schools and this can be stated as one of the main reasons as to why most girls refuse to go to
school.

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Most schools fail to realize that proper education comes
with proper facilities. Unfortunately, 60% of schools are
not electrified and the class room ratio in most schools is
higher than the recommended number.
Another issue that students have to face in school is the
lack of professionally trained teachers. About 21% of
teachers in most schools do not have professional training. If 91% of teachers failed to clear the
national Teacher Eligibility Test (NET) in 2010, the percentage has risen to 93% in 2014.

School Hygiene Issues
In August 2014, 88 students belonging to a
school in India were admitted to hospitals due to
food poisoning. The students were lucky enough that
all of them survived. But in 2013, poisoned school
lunch in another school in India left 23 children
dead while 47 children fell seriously ill.
Hygiene issues are faced mostly by schools in rural
India where there are minimum facilities.
Students of government-run schools are most
affected by hygiene issues in schools. Apart from
issues in the lunch provided by the schools, there are also other hygiene issues that they have to face.
Sometimes, the surroundings of the school won’t be clean enough. The student-toilet ratio in most
schools is abysmal that students are forced to answer nature’s call in the open. Reports state that this
routine has given rise to students contracting water borne diseases in the country. In some schools, they
may have toilets but they may not be cleaned regularly and students are to suffer from the various
health issues connected to that.
These issues can be addressed and solved, only if the government and school authorities work hand-in-
hand to plan and implement necessary solutions.




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RULES AND REGULATIONS

Student Molestation
Children are the gift of God. They deserve to be taken care
of it has become usual occurrence that they are subjected to
molestation. Parents no longer hold confidence in about the safety of
their children. It becomes impossible for the victim to overcome the
trauma created by the molester. The molester can be anyone. Molestation leaves mental, physical and
emotional wounds, sometimes even time cannot heal them.
The trauma in which the children are thrown affects not only the victim but their
family as well. Society considers molestation as a shameful act, even the victim
is forced to suffer the shame. The case that results in trial also has problems. The
court room experience can be traumatic for children.
Parents should be aware about the rights of their children. Ample protection is
ensured by law.
Symptoms that are warnings
According to psychologists there are some symptoms that indicate that the
child is undergoing some type of stress.
Mistrust towards adults
Avoidance of people
Sleep problems, nightmares and fear of bed
Absent- mindedness
Refusal to go to school
Aggressive behaviour
Disorders in habit
Unusual behaviour
Extreme fear while touching
Constant fear of people

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Sudden silence
Shows no interest over things once interested
Gloomy behaviour

Child Abuse Penalty
Depending upon several factors, a person charged with child abuse can face wide range of penalties.
These factors include:
Age of the child
Whether the offence involved sexual abuse
Whether the child is physically or mentally injured
Criminal history of the offender

Effects of Molestation
Serious cases of child molestation can result in lifetime imprisonment
Least serious molestation cases can result jail
Punishment can be severe if the offender has past criminal records
The offender has to live with a ruined reputation for the rest of his life
People who do not report molestation is also subjected to penalties
The issue of molestation is considered as a very serious issue.

Don’t ignore, listen and react!
At a tender age, it becomes impossible to distinguish the right person and the wrong person. The bad
intentions of people around are seldom understood by children. If a child is subjected to molestation,
they will definitely feel that something is wrong but fails to understand the intensity of the trap.
Often students are threatened against speaking up, which will place them in an extremely depressing
situation. It takes a lot of courage to speak for them. It is only to the most comfortable person that the

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children will speak up. There are a lot of factors that must be taken care of when a child speaks about
the molestation she has experienced.
a) Teachers should always maintain a friendly relation with the students
b) Slightest behaviour change in the children should be noticed by the teacher
c) If a student speaks about the molestation she had been subjected to, don’t ignore, listen
d) Don’t be angry to the child
e) Encourage the child to speak
f) Tell them it’s not their fault and make them feel better

Be Responsible:
When student complaints about the molestation, there are some responsibilities that must be done
without wasting time
The student must be given medical help as soon as possible
Physical wounds or injuries must be treated
The incident must be reported to the higher authority of school as well as the parents of the child
The child must be given counseling to regain the confidence and positive attitude to life
Police should be informed about the issue as soon as possible

In 2012, the Indian Parliament passed “The protection of Children from Sexual
Offences Act”
To ensure protection of children the legal system has strengthened itself to the most possible way. No
child deserves a frightened childhood and no offender deserves to escape the law.
1) The Act identifies person below the age of 18 years
2) The act provides protection to all the children under the age of 18 years from any kind of
pornography, sexual assault and sexual harassment
3) Aspects of touch and non touch behaviours have also been taken into consideration for the
first time.

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4) Child friendly procedure is encouraged by the Act during the process of investigation,
reporting and trial of the offence
5) The media is prohibited from publishing the details of a child without the special order of
supreme court
6) Recording the statement of the child can be at her residence or at any place of her choice
7) Recording should be under the supervision of a lady police, not less than the rank of sub-
inspector
8) Should not detain the child in the police station during night
9) While recording the statement, police officers should not be in uniforms
10) The statement of the molested child must be recorded
11) Interpreter or translator can be used
12) If the child is disabled, assistance can be taken from educator or any person familiar with the
communication purpose.
13) Medical examination can be conducted along with the parent of the child or any person,
the child holds confidence on
14) If the victim is a girl child, medical examination must be conducted by a female doctor
15) Aggressive questioning of the child is strictly prohibited
16) Camera trial cases
17) Child should not be repeatedly called for testifying

Punishments of Offences under the Act
Penetrative Sexual Assault (Section 3)
Minimum imprisonment for seven years which can extend up to life imprisonment and liable to
fine as well
Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault (Section 5)
Minimum imprisonment of ten years which can extend up to life imprisonment and fine
Sexual Assault (Section 7)

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Minimum three years of imprisonment which can extend to three years and liable for fine
Aggravated Sexual Assault (Section 9)
Minimum of five years imprisonment which can extend up to seven years and liable for fine
Sexual Harassment of the Child (Section 11)
Imprisonment for three years and fine.
Use of Child for Pornographic Purposes (Section 13)
Minimum five years of imprisonment and fine which can extend to seven years and fine in
subsequent conviction

Terrorism & Schools
Attacks on schools around the globe are increasing day by day. The attack and its outcome raises a
very valid question as to how prepared our schools are for an unexpected attack Awoken by the
massacre, the authorities began to ask questions about the preparedness of their children towards such
attacks
Several rules and regulations have been made to increase the safety of children.
SOP guidelines
A Standard Operating Procedure is being detailed by the Ministry of Home Affairs for the prevention of
any terrorist attacks on schools. It is a fact that crowded places like malls, schools, multiplexes and
hostels are prone to terrorist attacks. The self-protection method is the best to avoid harms caused by it.
According to the reports of TOI, April 5, 2010 was the last time when school authorities received a
circular about the Standard Operating System (SOP). The circular dealt with the kidnapping of students
during the arrival and departure to school. The circular also dealt with the firing or any other attacks.
Home Ministry has taken initiatives to reduce the impact of any external attacks.
Specifications of SOP:
CCTV with recording facilities
Multiple gates with three security guards
Concrete boundary walls

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Telephone connectivity.
Proper lighting
Regular walkie- talkie connection between security guards
Alarm system
Public announcement system
Highlights of the SOP:
a) Principal of the school should evaluate the SOP carefully and bring it in to the notice of
staff members and teachers
b) Comprehensive action plan must be made for the successful implementation of the
guidelines
c) Allocate specific roles to each and every staff member without fail
d) The action of each and every staff members should be specified to them early
e) Local police must be involved in the process
f) Security personnel should be vigilant all the time
Mock drills must be conducted for students, teachers and staff members of the school

Student Kidnapping
Kidnapping is taking a person from one place to another against the
consent of that person. Students are mainly kidnapped for money.
Kidnapping happens for various demands as well as for human trafficking.
Kidnapping is a serious criminal offence in the eye of law. The victim
experiences psychological trauma which may leave permanent scars in
the mind of the kidnapped.


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Laws against kidnapping in India
Whoever from lawful guardianship kidnaps any person in India, shall be liable for punishment. Either they
will be imprisoned, which can extend up to seven years and shall be liable for fine also. (Sec 363)
Sub sections(1) : Any person who is not the lawful guardian of a minor, kidnaps the minor or obtains the
custody of the minor, using the minor for employment or for the purpose of begging is liable for
punishment for up to ten years and shall also for fine.
Sub sections (2): Whoever wounds any minor for the purpose of employment or using them for the
purpose of begging shall be punishable with imprisonment for life time and is also liable for fine.
Sub sections (3): Any person who is not the lawful guardian of a minor, employs or uses the minor for the
purpose of begging will be punished.
Sub sections (4): The meanings of terms are given in this section

Kidnapping, based on the nature of act
Can be classified as
Kidnapping for murder
Kidnapping for ransom
Kidnapping with secret intent
Kidnapping women for forced marriage
Kidnapping minors
Kidnapping for importation
Kidnapping and human trafficking

Punishment
All acts of kidnapping are treated with equal disdain by authorities. Punishments vary from a few years
in prison to a decade. All of the offenders are also liable to being fined according to the seriousness of
the offence.


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Concealing kidnapping
Concealing a kidnapping issue is also an offence. Whoever conceals the kidnapping issue is also liable
for punishment.



School Bus Incidents
School bus is undoubtedly the most convenient means of student
transportation. But unfortunately, there are a number of safety issues
faced by students travelling by school vehicles. Hence, there are a
number of laws in place for ensuring safety.
The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) summarized the benefits of
these laws as providing comfort, security and safety for students and
parents alike. These benefits include reaching schools on time,
reducing pollution emission resulting from vehicle exhausts and
reducing traffic jams.

Direction of the Supreme Court of India for School Bus
1) "School Bus" must be written on the back and front of the Bus.
2) If it is a hired bus, "On School Duty" should be clearly indicated
3) Bus must have a First-Aid-Box.
4) The windows of Bus must be fitted with horizontal grills.
5) There must be a Fire Extinguisher in the Bus.
6) School Name and Telephone No. must be written
on the Bus.
7) The doors of the Bus should be fitted with reliable locks.
8) To keep School Bags safely, there should be a space fitted under the seats.

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9) There must be an Attendant from the School in the Bus. School cabs should be fit with speed
governors with maximum speed limit of 40 kmph.
10) The body of school cab shall be highway yellow colour with a horizontal strip in green colour of
150mm width in the middle all around the vehicle and the words ‘SCHOOL CAB’ must be
prominently displayed on all four sides of the vehicle.
11) If age of school children is below 12 years, the number of children carried shall not exceed 1½
times the permitted seating capacity. Children above 12 years shall be treated as one person.
12) The driver of a school cab must have valid licence to drive LMV-Transport Vehicles for a period
of at least four years and compulsorily wear a light blue shirt, light blue trousers and black shoes.
His name ID should be displayed on the shirt.
13) There must be enough space provided to keep school bags inside the vehicle and the bags
should not be hung outside the vehicle or placed on roof carriers.
14) The bus driver must carry a complete list of the children being ferried in the school cab,
indicating the name, class, residential address, blood group and the points of stoppage, route
plan, etc.
15) In case of kindergarten, if an authorized person recognised mutually by the school and parents,
does not come to pick the child from the halting points and such, the child shall be taken back
to the school and their parents should be called.

Latest Additions
Because of the incidents happening around there have been rules made on school bus management
by the concerned authorities in India to assure safety and secure ride for the students and relief for
parents.
GPS and CCTV have been made compulsory in school buses. Installation of CCTV in school
premises made compulsory. The footage of the CCTV must be kept for 60 days and must be
handed over to the police in case of any investigation purpose. 500 school bus cameras have
been installed by the Bangalore Metropolitan Corporation. GPS has been declared compulsory
by Central Board of Secondary Education.
School bus drivers are restricted to have interaction with students beyond a limit in school bus
and socializing with students are also limited.
Entering school grounds are restricted to authorized people. Any person suspicious entering the
school premises will be reported without fail.

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ID cards are issued to parents, which must be bought while picking up their children. If they
cannot come for picking up their children, an SMS must be send authorizing another person to
pick them up.
Under section 188 Act of the Indian Penal Code, any failure on the school’s behalf to obey these new
rules and regulations can lead to punishment.
More and more rules are coming in to light for the better travel experience of students.

Standard Requirements for School Buses in India
All school buses in India are mandated to have an external colour of Golden Yellow. This
colour shall be as per IS 5 -1994 (as amended from time to time)
For Identification, a band of 150mm wide of ‘Golden Brown’colour might be provided on
all sides of the bus below the window level
Two emergency exits are mandatory on all school buses in India. One on the rear half of
the bus on the right hand side and on the rear side of the bus. Children should be trained
to operate these doors.
Whenever the bus passenger door or one of the emergency exits is open, the bus should
be incapable of motion. The driver should get an indication of the doors being open by
means of flashing light/buzzer or other suitable means.
The lowest footstep height shall not be more than 220mm from ground. The bus should
be incapable of motion without folding or retracting the steps
All seats other than the ones facing the passenger step well should be forward facing.
Also, a partition should be provided to the seat facing the step well.
Stopping signals, a hazard warning and a stop signal arm should operate whenever the
passenger door opens.
A tamper-proof speed governor that complies with the requirements of Rule 118 of CMV
(A)R1989 should be provided to ensure the driver doesn’t cross the speed limit.
Any parent/guardian or a teacher may also travel to ensure these safety norms.

http://www.slideshare.net/northstargps/requirements-for-school-buses-in-india-government-of-india-
automotive-industry-standard?related=1
http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report-new-rules-for-school-buses-and-cabs-1835421

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Responsibilities of Students and Parents:
Parents and students shall assume the following responsibilities:
Parents have to deliver their children to the school bus or the assembly point at the specified
time. If there is a delay on their part, parents have to deliver their children to the school, without
holding the driver accountable.
Parents should help in training and educating their children
on the importance of traffic safety, and how to wait and ride
in the school bus.
Parents should notify the school administration of any offence
or negligence from the driver.
The driver may return the students to the school if no one
came to collect them upon returning at home, under the
responsibility of the parents.
Students should maintain the bus cleanness and notify the
school management or their parents of any offences committed by the driver or students.

School Violence
School violence can leave indelible scars in the minds of students and therefore, the governments
around the world have worked on creating laws to curb it. Some of those laws include:
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act 2006
Section 23: Meant to punish those people, even if it is a parent or teacher, who harass, exploit,
abandon, or neglect a child. The punishment for the offence will be 6 months of imprisonment or a fine
or both.

National Policy on Education (1986)
Para 5.6, Child-Centred Approach- An encouraging approach, where
children are treated with care and concern, thus motivating them to
attend school and learn. The approach discourages corporal
punishment and other punishments of the sort and lets students to set
their own pace and keep learning without fear.

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National charter for Children (2003)
Acknowledges the existence of provision of the Constitution and of the 1974 National Policy, which lists
conditions under which children must be protected. The charter intends to ensure that children have a
happy childhood and to protect them from all kinds of violence and stresses that the state must take
necessary measures to protect children. According to the Article 7 (f) of National charter for Children,
the state must ensure that the discipline maintained in schools do not cause any kind of physical or
mental distress to students.
National plan of Action for Children 2005(NPA)
The main motive of NPA is to protect children against all kinds of atrocities that may damage them on a
physical, mental or emotional basis. Prohibition and eleimination of corporal punishment is identified as
a priority in the NPA 2005 and on the report of NPA 2007-2012.
In December 2007, the Human Resource Development Ministry of India wrote to all Chief Secretaries
prohibiting corporal punishment in schools across India as it may severely affect the self-esteem and
confidence of a child.
Also, a Right to Education Bill (Bill No. LXV of 2008),meant to prohibit punishment in schools, has been
addressed in the Rajya Sabha and awaits enactment. In the category 17. (1), it states that “no child
shall be subjected to physical punishment or mental harassment” and “(2) Whoever contravenes the
provisions of sub-section (1) shall be liable to disciplinary action under the service rules applicable to
such person.”

http://harprathmik.gov.in/pdf/rte/corporal%20punishment%20ncpcr.pdf
http://www.childlineindia.org.in/child-abuse-child-violence-india.htm
http://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/sites/default/files/consultations/schools/tackling_violence_in_sch
ools_a_global_perspective.pdf
http://plan-international.org/learnwithoutfear/files/third-progress-report
https://goo.gl/


School Bullying

Students can do the following to prevent bullying
a) Treat each other with respect
b) Refuse to join bullying
c) Refuse others to bully

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d) Help students who are bullied
e) If someone is bullying, report it to a senior staff of school and someone at home

Teach them right
a) Teach your child to raise voice against bullying
b) Appreciate the acts of courage done against bullying
c) Teach your child to be friendly with all
d) Teach them to love and respect all
e) Instill in them the satisfaction that comes in helping others

When your child complains about bullying; don’t ignore, listen!
a) Don’t ever tell your child to ignore bullying
b) Blaming your child for being bullied is not a solution; don’t think that it is because of
something at your child’s part that resulted in bullying. This can result in bitter consequences.
c) Allow your child to talk about the bullying experience, listen to them carefully and
encourage them to speak.
d) Make your child feel that it’s not his/her fault to get bullied. The people who do bullying are
the bad ones.
e) Appreciate your child’s courage, he/she assimilated to speak up
f) Make your child feel comfortable and protected
g) Contact a teacher, school counselor or principal immediately and share the experience
your child faced
h) Informing bullying alone doesn’t not help, follow up the issue. Make sure that your child will
be safe in future in the school premises
i) Encourage your child to develop healthy friendship with other students in class and hobbies
that will make them cheerful.
j) If additional assistance is required, seek the help of counselor or mental health professional.

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School Responsibilities;
There are some crucial responsibilities that must be followed by the school authority to prevent such
shameful acts. Some of them are:
a) Schools can promote bullying prevention plan as a part of school improvement plan.
Awareness can be raised among students regarding the negative effects of bullying.
b) Effective bullying preventive strategy can be made to achieve the goal of anti-bullying
school premises
c) Students can be made volunteers, to make sure that bullying is not practiced inside the
school campus
d) The anti bullying volunteers can report to a higher authority of the school in case of any
bullying practice inside the school
e) School must not ignore bullying complaints, disciplinary action must be taken against the
culprits
f) The consequences of the bullies must be a lesson for other students to prevent even the
thought of bullying other students
Think twice before you act;
Bullying can be reported to the concerned authority or person on the school
Prior physical abuse, the victim can take the help of police
First Information Report must be filed against the person responsible for the abuse
Depending upon the extend of physical abuse, the following consequences can be faced by the
abuser;
a) Suspension
b) Cancellation of admission
c) Withholding or withdrawing fellowship and scholarship along with other benefits
d) Debarring from appearing examination
e) Suspension from the school hostel
f) Excessive fine


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Student Drug Abuse
Use of drugs is an illegal and criminal act. According to a
study, lack of awareness among students is the main reason for drug
addiction. Majority of students, who used drugs, obtained it from friends.
Drugs are supplied to a particular student from someone outside the
school and other students are attracted towards the use of drugs.
According to calculations a top anti-narcotics officer said that the
average age of children taking drugs had fallen from 16 to 12. When
officers smashed in to an international gang of drug dealers, they found
that school children were also associated with drug dealing.

Drugs in state schools
State school principals have got the right to make rules regarding the conduct of students inside the
school. They have the authority to suspend students who break the rules in a serious way. Schools have
laws against possessing or using of drugs at school.
If a student is found possessing drugs, he/she will be suspended for several days.
If a student is caught dealing with drugs at school, they will be expelled or suspended for
a long time
The school should report the issue to police; they will be warned or cautioned
Power of teachers
Teachers have got the capability to understand the behavior of the
children easily. They mingle with children on a daily basis and this makes
them closer towards students. But teachers are restricted to a great extend
when compared to the power of police force. Even though they have
authority on their students, they are restricted when it comes to personal
matters of children to a great extend.
Teachers do not have the right to search clothes and bags of students
unless the student agrees for the search. Teachers cannot hold a student
nor can they lock any student in a room. This does not mean that, teachers
do not hold any authority and responsibility towards students.
Teachers have got the following authority:


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Teachers can search school premises and classrooms including desk and locker
Seize drugs if they find it
Schools can call the police to search a student because police holds the authority to search any
person

Disciplinary actions
If a student is found responsible for violation of Conduct prescribed by the school authority, disciplinary
action will be taken. State school principals have the authority to suspend students for a limited period
of time but principals don’t have the power expel them.
Decision of expelling students can only be taken by Department of Education and Training. Principal
must contact the parents and should inform them about the disciplinary action they have decided to
make. If a student is found with drugs, he can be expelled from the school.
Private school principals hold much more freedom compared to that of state schools. Depending on
the circumstances decisions are made.
Awareness is always important
Effective drug education is of great importance among students. Educating them right about the
adverse effects of addiction can do magic while lack of effective guidance can result in a lot of
problems.
Every school must have a seminar conducted on the adverse effects of drugs. There should be a
friendly system built within the school to make students comfortable with their teachers. Many students
are trapped in such activities, because they are unaware about the consequences.

Laws against drugs in India
According to Article 47 of the Constitution of India directs the soate to consider the level of nutrition and
the living standard of its people and improvement of public health remain its primary duty and
prohibition of consumption, except for medical purposes, of intoxicating drinks and drugs injurious to
health.
Possession of drugs is offence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDSP Act).
The law doesn’t consider the fact that whether the possession of the drugs is for personal consumption,
commercial purpose or of any other purpose. The punishment depends on the quantity of drugs
possessed. Drug possession is divided into three types.

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Small Quantity
More than small quantity but less than that of commercial quantity
Commercial Quantity
The punishment depends on the quantity of drug possessed. If the student is found with small quantity,
they are made to undergo de-addiction treatment.
Punishment and penalty
Small Quantity
Fine up to 10,000 or 6 months rigorous imprisonment or both
More than small quantity but less than that of commercial quantity
Fine up to Rs. 1,00,000 and up to 10 years rigorous imprisonment
Commercial Quantity
Fine of Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 2,00,000 and rigorous imprisonment of 10 to 20 years
Classification of drugs







Any quality below the prescribed limit is considered as small quantity
Any quality above the prescribed limit is considered as Commercial quantity




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Other factors considered
a) Since the school students are below the age of 18 years, a special law called the
Juvenile Justice Act (care and protection) applies for any offence committed fewer than
18.
b) Narcotics Control Bureau and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, is empowered to take
action under the law.
c) Using drugs is not like consumption of alcohol and smoking. It is illegal for everyone of
every age
d) The age of a person does not matter, possession of drugs is an offence
e) Drugs like diazepam, buprenorphine and proxyvone have medical uses. Such drugs can
be bought and used only if the doctor prescribes it. The pharmacists selling them and the
companies manufacturing them also possess license under the law.

School Infrastructure
School Building Environment
Buildings of the school must be built away from any contaminating resources. There must be
emergency exits in the building, easily accessible. Lighting and ventilation should be taken in to
consideration. Metal mesh should be used to secure windows. Floors/roofs/walls should be damage
free. The furniture should be of quality and appropriate for the students. Activity hall should contain
adequate and appropriate equipments.
School compound
The main gate of the school must be away from main road/street. Outside the main gate barriers must
be placed to avoid students suddenly rushing to street. Around the school compound, fence with
height and strength should be provided. Play ground should be constructed in such a way that it should
protect children from sun and rain. Play facilities with injury prevention should be enabled. Maintaining
clean compound is always the first priority.
Parking Areas
There should be enough space for safe parking inside the school premises. Staff vehicle and student
vehicle should have separate parking space.


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Food Facilities
Healthy food is very important and it should provide all the necessary nutrition to the students. Canteen
and kitchen should be hygienic. Canteen workers should be medically fit and should have the
certificate of health authority. Food should contain fruits and vegetables of good
quality.
Drinking Water
Every school should have safe drinking water source. Water tanks should be kept
clean and frequently cleaned. Ensure that the water is purified. Cleaning and
maintenance reports should be kept. The person who takes care of the water
supply of school should not have any disease.
Toilets
Ensure adequate toilet facilities with proper ventilation and lighting. Soap and paper
towel dispenser should be made available. Water supply should be ensured. Floors and
walls should be covered with ceramic, free from any damage. Floor and walls must be
kept clean and disinfected. Floors must be slippery free. Drainage system should be
proper.
Waste Disposal
There should be an effective system for waste disposal. There should be dustbins in each and every class
including labs to library. Play grounds should also have dustbins. Encourage students to dispose waste in
dustbins.

Student Hygiene
Schools are much more than just a place for learning and conducting
examinations, schools helps to cultivate overall personality of a person. Schools must
teach their students the relevance of healthy habits in life.
Hygiene is really important for health. Students should be made aware of its
importance. Each and every school must take the responsibility to ensure better
environment for their students. Healthy habits should be cultivated in students from a
very early age.
Mission
By applying best technical and administrative methods, health care service can attain quality and
effectiveness. Personal and surrounding hygiene is of great importance. It is the responsibility of a

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student to maintain good personal hygiene and clean surroundings. Each and every school should take
the mission of spreading the awareness and importance of hygiene.
Share responsibilities of the school surroundings
A lot of difference can be achieved by team work
Innovate new methods of keeping the surroundings clean
Empower enthusiasm and commitment

Objectives
Schools should establish their own School Health Program with Objectives and Components
a) Provide health care service to every school child in order to maintain their well being.
b) Establish healthy relations among the Department of Health and Medical Service, school
Administrators, students and parents.
Coordinate the activities of school Health Services for early notification and
management of infectious diseases among students.
c) Conduct health education programs to increase awareness on health matters among
students
d) Use the help of licensed school doctors/nurses to make the health programs more
effective
e) Maintain healthy and safe school environment.
f) Provide sufficient First Aid and or Emergency Care, proportionate to the school’s
population.
g) Take effective measures against communicable diseases in the schools.
h) Take special Dental care of students
School health programs should provide students with adequate knowledge about the importance of
being hygienic.
Health Education
a) Program should include the physical, mental, emotional and social dimensions of health.

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b) The curriculum must motivate the students to improve their health,
prevent disease, and reduce health related risks and behaviour.
c) Demonstrate health-related knowledge and better health practices.

Physical Education
a) Make students practice activity areas such as basic movement
skills, physical fitness, dance, games, dual and individual sport, and
gymnastics
b) Through variety of planned physical activities physical education
should be promoted
c) Appoint trained teachers for supervising physical activities.
Health Services
a) Health services protect and promote health of students
b) Health service is provided by qualified professionals such as physicians, nurses, dentists
and health educators
Nutrition Service
a) Access to nutritious and appealing meals that ensure health and nutrition of all students
b) Qualified child nutrition professionals can be appointed
Counselling and Psychological Services
a) To improve mental, emotional and social health of students Counseling and
Psychological Services are of great importance
b) Psychologists contribute not only to the health of students but also to the health of school
environment.
c) Qualified professionals certified in school counseling, psychologists, and social workers
can help
Healthy School Environment
a) Factors that influence the physical environment include the school building and the
surrounding area, biological and chemical agents that are harmful to health, and
physical conditions such as temperature, noise, and lighting

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b) For the well being of students and staff, healthy environment is an important factor
Community Involvement
a) Approach of community and parents and community are no less important in shaping
cleanliness attitude of students
b) Parent involvement should be actively encouraged.
Responsibilities of schools
a) Maintenance of Healthy school Environment
b) Physical/Medical examination of students.
c) First Aid Care/Emergency Care
d) Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases
e) Health Education
f) Maintenance of Records and Reports
g) Regular update of health issues

STUDENT SAFETY INITIATIVES
Life of school goers is equally risky as any other grown up individual, maybe we fail to realize that.
Student kidnapping, School bus incidents, School infrastructure issues, Student molestation, School
bullying, Student drug abuse, School hygiene issues are some of the issues that they face but being kids,
they are not strong enough to tackle the problems. These issues are not unavoidable, but we have to
take a step further to prevent such unfortunate issues from happening and this is how we can do it:

Student Molestation
Students being subjected to sexual abuse have become common news in the media and we keep
wondering whether we can really put an end to such things from happening. Yes we can try and
prevent such incidents from happening in the following ways:
a) Follow sexual abuse prevention policies and ensure that the security arrangements are fully
functional

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b) Educate children about their bodies and what parts of their bodies, others should not touch
c) Make sex education a must in school for students of the appropriate age
d) Make a plan involving the students and thereby making them aware of where to go, what to do
and how to react in case of an attempt of sexual abuse
e) Conduct seminars or similar programs to educate the parents and students about sexual abuse
f) Ensure that students can rely on you if they are subjected to any type of abuse
g) Provide self-defense training to students
h) Appoint counselors to help students deal with the trauma if they are subjected to sexual abuse
in school
i) Have a background check done before appointing an employee in the school
j) Last and most important of all, school authorities should immediately report it to the police if they
get a complaint about student sexual abuse. It won’t do you any harm in terms of reputation of
the school, but can help you win respect.
In Karnataka, the Udayagiri police in Mysuru have adopted 51 schools, out of which 34 schools are
private while 17 schools are government-run, as a part of curbing sexual assaults against students and
to ensure the safety of school goers. As a part of the program, constables have been assigned in each
of the schools to watch out for illegal activities and eve-teasers. They also intend to hold meetings with
students and parents to spread awareness about child sexual abuse.
Links- http://www.wilmington.edu/student-life/residence-safety-measures.cfm
http://www.d2l.org/atf/cf/%7B64AF78C4-5EB8-45AA-BC28-
F7EE2B581919%7D/7%20Steps%20to%20Protecting%20Our%20Children.pdf
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2014/11/24/Police-Adopt-51-Schools-to-Ensure-
Safety-of-Kids/article2538088.ece

School Violence &Terrorism

Mock drills to prevent attacks on schools
It is a must to train students to protect themselves under violent situations. Such circumstances demand
preparedness. Mock drills are conducted to prepare children in order to face natural disasters. It has
become a need that students should be trained to deal with terrorism and violence as well. Mock drills

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on terror attacks can help children save themselves, reducing the impact of the attack. Every attack
increases tension and stress to a great extend that, often children remain numb, unable to react to the
situation around.
Reactions to a threat
Mock drills on terror attack are a combined effort. Reducing the panic of the students, they must be
trained to rely on themselves.
If somebody tries forcibly to enter the school compound by threatening the guards or crashing the
vehicle in to the gate, police should be informed as soon as possible. Alarm should be rung to indicate
the threat.
a) Upon hearing the alarm children and staff members should go inside classrooms and lock
themselves in.
b) Children are advised to remain inside their respective classrooms.
c) In case of a bomb alert, children should not be only allowed to remain in a place with checking
the area.
d) Police should be informed
e) Injured students should be hospitalized as soon as possible
f) Lastly, parents should be informed about the attack
First-aid in schools
An alert mind can save many lives. From times unknown, many lives have been saved by giving proper
first aid at the right time. The story of Jaipal Basi, a school girl who saved her friend in 2010, who started
choking on a piece of cucumber, by quickly delivering five back blows that she was taught during a
first-aid training session is a fine example. But, many schools still remain indifferent when it comes to
having first-aid facilities or first-aid training.

Why is first-aid training necessary in schools?
Students are prone to at least minor bruises every day. Slips and falls are part of school life. But,
sometimes, the injuries may be serious or worse. First-aid training can come handy in such situations.
Suppose a student falls unconscious. It may take several minutes to summon the ambulance and for the

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ambulance to reach the school. During that time, applying the first-aid training you received can save
a life!
It is a truth that 50% of the world’s work places do not have first aid facilities. It includes schools as well,
where chances of need for emergency care are more.
What schools must do?
Refer web sites for first-aid techniques and create and implement a safety and health strategy
of your own
Make sure that the schools have first-aid room with all necessary facilities and a qualified doctor
and nurse at service
Appoint a first-aid instructor and hold first aid training sessions for teachers and students at least
twice in an academic year
Empower staff and students with confidence to respond to an emergency situation
If cost is an obstacle for first aid training in your school, there are packages available for a
minimum cost in the market that you can buy
Arrange specialist trainees in schools and conduct classes on first aid
Giving first-aid does not mean that there are no chances of potential danger. Even if you have been
given basic first aid, it is always advisable that you got to a hospital for further check-up. For example, if
you are bleeding and basic first-aid has controlled the bleeding to some extent, it does not eliminate
chances of internal bleeding, which can be detected in hospitals only. Giving first-aid can keep
emergency situations at check.
Having a well-defined health and safety strategy can not only make schools safer but also other places
like home or anywhere outside. First-aid can reduce the number of fatalities. Aldo, first-aid training brings
in a sense of responsibility in teachers and students and encourages them to respond to emergency
situations.

Suggestions by parents
Parents, who have experienced the crisis of school attacks, put forward some suggestions to be taken in
to consideration by the school authorities.
Some of the recommendations made by the parents are,
a) There should be an emergency plan which should be known to students, teachers and parents.
From the first day of the school the plan should be implemented and made clear
b) The evacuation plan should have several alternative destinations

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c) The location of the children must be notified to the parents and a procedure that will identify the
person who will come to pick-up the child if parents are not available.
d) Schools should have emergency contact number of children, to which they can contact in case
of any crisis
e) After attack children should be given adequate counselling to reduce the psychological
pressure
f) Parents should be provided the required information about the extra support and nurturing their
children will require.
g) The children should be given emotional support

Student Kidnapping
India is a country where emotions and relations have more value than anything else and parents are
always ready to go to any extent to give the best of things to their children. This love is the main reason
of children being the victims of kidnaps. Whatever the motive behind any child kidnapping is, it is not a
crime committed out of an impulse. Majority of the kidnappings that happened in the country had
been well planned. There is very little that a school can do if the child is being kidnapped at the bus
stop or anywhere outside the school, but a lot of preventive measures can be taken by the school to
avoid kidnapping from the school premises.
a) Monitor the dropping & pickup of students by assigning staff to do it
personally or by CCTV cameras
b) Ask the school bus drivers and those who come to pick up the
students to carry an identification tag with them, which the security
staff will verify
c) Ask children not to give away their personal information to any
strangers
d) Devise a system in school that notifies about the absence of a
student and raise an alarm as soon as possible
e) Conduct awareness programs and counseling to students and
their parents to educate them about the preventive measures that
can be taken during an attempt to kidnap
f) Conduct classes for students on the safety students that have to

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be kept in mind while dealing with strangers and to recognize unusual behavior of
acquaintances
g) Provide self-defense training for students
St Aloysius Gongaza School in Karnataka is the first school in India to introduce Wushu, a Chinese martial
art form that features elegant movements and some acrobatic aerial movements. A good move
indeed by the school which has also been conducting Karate classes to students. Wushu was
introduced in the school to train students in terms of self-defense and discipline. So far, 96 students,
which include 53 from Kindergarten, have registered to learn Wushu once a week. It’s time for more
schools to come forward and implement necessary steps to assure the safety of students in school
premises.
Links- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/Wushu-teaches-students-self-defense-
ethics/articleshow/45316153.cms
http://kravmaga-chennai.blogspot.in/2010/11/safety-procedures-to-prevent-kidnapping.html

School Bus Incidents
School bus incidents always end with a condolence note by the authorities and the announcement of
compensation, nothing further. Most of the school bus related incidents happen due to the negligence
of the school bus drivers or school authorities. Therefore, turning a blind eye towards the avoidable
incidents is only going to affect the reputation of the school and hence it’s necessary to start thinking of
solutions to prevent school bus incidents.
a) Make sure that parents accompany younger students to the bus stop
b) Ensure that the students board and alight the bus only after the bus comes to a complete stop
c) Assign an employee in every bus monitor the students and to ensure that no student had been
left behind in the bus once it reaches the destination
d) Verify previous records of school bus drivers before hiring them
e) Device systems such as CCTV cameras and GPS systems should be installed in school buses to
monitor the performance of school bus drivers and to ensure the safety of students
f) Train students to remain seated in the school bus throughout the journey to school or on the way
back home
g) Conduct seminars or classes to school bus staff at least once every year to instill safe driving
practices in them

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Earlier this year, CBSE has taken an appreciable step to strengthen the security system and to ensure the
safety of students. CBSE has made it mandatory for all school buses to have GPS installed in them. This
helps the school authorities to track the location of the school bus and to take immediate actions in
case of unscheduled bus stops. Previously, CBSE had made speed governors mandatory in school buses
to prevent over speeding but only few schools obliged.
Links- http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/cbse-makes-gps-compulsory-in-school-
buses/1/334687.html
http://www.meshbesher.com/blog/2012/11/school-bus-accidents-how-to-keep-your-child-safe/

School Bullying
It has been found out that children subjected to violence such as bullying, the stress can cause
accelerated biological aging in children leading to health issues and early death. This means that the
trauma bullying can cause in a child last not for a moment, but forever. Every child is important and
should be nurtured with equal care and security and for that, school authorities have to take measures
to prevent bullying in schools.
a) Implement anti-bullying policies in school
b) Take measures to control the situation before hand than responding after such unwanted
incidents happened
c) Cases of bullying, when reported, should be taken seriously. But punishing the bully can only
cause more harm. Make them understand the cons of bullying and try to solve the issue
amicably
d) Hold talks with students and take a survey on a monthly or annual basis to understand how
much bullying is there in school
e) Conduct classes to make students aware of how bullying for fun can change a person’s life
forever and to build self-confidence in students
f) Ask students to show minimal action when being bullied, thus discouraging the bullies
g) Make sure that students report cases of bullying to the authorized people
h) Ensure that a responsible person is around to monitor students when they use the Internet at
school
i) Communicate with parents on the bad effects of cyber bullying and how they can
contribute in tackling it

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j) Appoint counselors in schools to talk to the victims of bullying and to bring them out of the
trauma and also to advise the students who bully on how their actions can hurt others
Links- http://www.livescience.com/19858-bullying-child-abuse-aging.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Bullies

Student Drug Abuse
Student drug abuse is a very serious problem we deal with today and if not prevented at an early stage,
can ruin a whole generation. There can be many reasons why they fall prey to substance abuse, and as
a school authority, it is your duty to bring your students out of it.
a) Being harsh to the students who use drugs will not help; try talking to them and understand
their reason of taking drugs or other substances
b) Appoint an anti-drug abuse promoter in the school, who can guide the students and
prevent them from resorting to drugs
c) Educate the students through seminars and other media about the adverse effects of
substance abuse
d) Conduct programs to strengthen the relations between students and the school. A positive
environment at school can prevent the students from using drugs to some extent
To lower the rates of crime against children and to instill discipline in them, the Karnataka Government
has planned to raise Student Police Cadet units. The project will not only help the students to
understand their capabilities but also to fight all issues faced by children especially student substance
abuse. Kerala has already launched the SPC project while Rajasthan and Gujarat are planning to
adopt it.
Links- https://billbill1311.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/an-effective-way-to-tackle-the-students-drug-
abuse-problem-in-secondary-school-of-hong-kong/
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Government-to-raise-Student-Police-Cadet-
units/articleshow/45276595.cms

School Infrastructure
For an issue in infrastructure facilities, either the government is to be blamed for not permitting enough
funds or the school authorities for not working towards the betterment of the school. Most of the issues of

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school infrastructure can be solved if at all the authorities take initiative and it isn’t expensive at all.
Remember that you are providing education, thus preparing a generation to contribute to the country
and your work may prove beneficiary to you in future as well. Therefore, it is necessary to provide the
best facilities possible to the students. Also, any unfortunate incident can affect your reputation.
a) Children spend majority of their time in school and therefore, it is necessary to have proper toilet
facilities in school
b) Lack of drinking water is an issue that most students face in school. Ensure that students are
provided with clean drinking water
c) Take initiatives to do the maintenance work of school buildings at the beginning of every
academic year. This can prevent issues of roofs falling down or collapse of school building
d) Climatic conditions are extreme in most areas and it will be difficult for students to pursue
education in such conditions.
e) Understand the importance of technology in today’s world and therefore, every school should
have at least one computer lab with functioning computers available to all students in a class.
f) While appointing teachers in schools, make sure that they are qualified and are professionally
trained
g) Conduct training sessions for teachers to improve their ways in teaching
Recently, the Telangana government has announced that every government run schools in the state
will be provided with proper toilet and drinking water facilities by August 2015.The education minister of
the state has said that about 1,520 toilets will be constructed using the funds provided by Sarva Shiksha
Abhiayan and efforts are being made to provide toilet and drinking water facilities in the schools by
involving IT and pharma companies as part of corporate social responsibility. A good move indeed!
Links- http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/Toilets-in-Government-Schools-by-Aug-
Next/2014/11/14/article2522501.ece
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Despite-funds-many-schools-lack-basic-
infra/articleshow/45116911.cms
School Hygiene
A school teaches children more than what is there in books. The school environment influences the
behaviour of the students and their personality. Therefore, maintain a hygienic school environment
matters.
a) Appoint staff to address hygiene issues in school
b) Ensure the cleanliness of school toilets and availability of water in the toilets on a daily basis

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c) Provide facilities to wash hands after using toilets
d) Ensure that drinking water available in the school is clean and store it in covered containers
e) Create a garbage pit in school where garbage from classrooms and school premises can be
deposited and burned once in a week
f) Enlighten students and staff about the importance of having a clean school environment
g) Celebrate cleanliness week at least twice a year in school where students and staff can
clean the school premises together
The East Delhi Municipal Corporation in collaboration with HEAL foundation launched an awareness
campaign named "Swasthya Bacche Shikshit Bacche,” which aims to educate over 1.5 lakh students in
schools in East Delhi on crucial topics like sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, fitness and stopping child abuse.
Links- http://www.lboro.ac.uk/well/resources/fact-sheets/fact-sheets-htm/ssahe.htm
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/awareness-campaign-for-nutrition-sanitation-
launched-114120901023_1.html










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doc_930428877.pdf