In the aftermath of a government school roof collapse in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar that killed seven students on Friday, the Union Ministry of Education has written to the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories, directing them to undertake a safety audit of all schools.
“All schools and public facilities used by children and youth must undergo safety audits in accordance with national safety codes and disaster management guidelines. Structural integrity, along with fire safety, emergency exits, and electrical wiring must be thoroughly assessed,” reads the Ministry’s communication.
States have also been asked to ensure that staff and students are trained in emergency preparedness, including evacuation drills, first aid, and safety protocols.
“Any dangerous situation, near miss, or incident involving potential harm to young individuals must be reported within 24 hours to the designated State or UT authority. Strict accountability should be fixed in cases of delay, negligence, or failure to act,” the communication noted.
Education departments and school boards have been asked to “act without delay” to implement these measures.
A senior official in the Education Ministry said that in addition to the incident in Rajasthan on Friday, other recent events — including part of a classroom ceiling falling in Madhya Pradesh and a roof collapse in a school in Jharkhand — prompted the communication to States.
States and UTs have also been asked to promote emotional well-being in schools through counselling services, peer-support systems, and community engagement. “Parents, guardians, community leaders, and local bodies should be encouraged to be vigilant and report unsafe conditions in schools, public areas, or transportation used by children and youth,” the Ministry’s communication stated.
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The incident on Friday at a government primary school in Jhalawar’s Piplodi village killed seven students and left eight critically injured. The State government has ordered a probe and suspended five teachers.
