Education Department wants all private schools to install CCTVs

Following the unfortunate incident of the molestation of a 9-year-old in a Dadar school, allegedly by a canteen employee, the HC has issued directives to schools to install CCTVs.

While the Bombay high court order came into effect in January, the state education department issued a government resolution (GR) to this effect on April 7, instructing all private management schools to install CCTV cameras on their premises within 6 months.

"Keeping in mind the security of students, CCTVs must be installed in schools. They must be fixed in areas that need to be under watch and steps must be taken to ensure they function smoothly," said deputy secretary, Ramchandra Gunjal in the GR. Education officers have been given specific instructions to check on the installation work in schools as well as the functioning of the CCTVs and submit a report to that effect every 6 months.

Nandkumar, principal secretary, school education, said that the instructions would apply to all schools. While the GR's instructions are applicable only to private aided and unaided schools, the secretary said that the state was in the process of evaluating the expense for implementing it in government schools as well.

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The state, though, has made its stand clear that no grants will be allocated to schools for CCTVs. "We are already short of funds and we hardly getting any aid from the government, except for salary grants," said the principal of a suburban school. Some plan to turn to alumni and CSR funds. "CCTVs will not only benefit students but also teachers and schools as well. In case we cannot afford to install these, we can ask the alumni or local organizations to donate for the same," said Prashant Redij, principal, Hilda Castelino School, Malad.