The Central Board of Secondary Education has released a set of consolidated, revised guidelines for transport facilities in schools affiliated to it, thereby making parents and school management more responsible for the safety of children.
The decision was taken following a school bus accident in Etah, Uttar Pradesh last month, in which 12 children and the bus driver died.
According to the new guidelines, parents have been assigned greater responsibility in ensuring safety of the children. Apart from the guidelines for school authorities and manpower in the bus, the board has also released a set of advisory for parents. The board wants at least one parent to remain present in the bus while students are being transported to school, to make sure that all the rules are being followed properly.
“Parents are equally responsible for the safety of their children during school journeys. They must ensure that the mode of transport arranged by the school authorities or by themselves is absolutely safe for their children,” reads the circular.
It has also asked parents to note down any violations committed by the driver and other staff of the school buses and immediately report it to the school authorities.
The decision to revise guidelines has been taken in the recent meeting of the board. “After the school bus accident in Etah, the board strongly felt that something serious should be done to stop any such accidents in the future. Hence, we have consolidated the guidelines. Some of the points are the same as before and some have been added from the motor vehicles act,” said a senior official from CBSE.
“Schools will have to strictly adhere to these guidelines or else it can also result in serious action against them,” the official added.
The board has also made the management and the head of the school responsible for any mishaps. “The management and head of CBSE affiliated schools will be held responsible for any lapse in this regard, which would invite appropriate action including disqualification of the school,” the CBSE circular read.
The board also wants schools to take periodic feedback from school children using school transport facility with regards to driver/conductor and the record should be maintained.
OTHER RULES
- Under no circumstances, any outsider except those permitted in the guidelines be allowed to enter the school bus.
- School buses shall not be fitted with curtains or glasses having films and the activities of the bus should be visible from outside.
- GPS and CCTV system should be made compulsory in each school bus. It should be ensured by the owner of bus that these are in working condition.
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