Lok Sabha Question No. 343 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Safety Audit of Schools
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. Alok Kumar Suman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 343 ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025

## Safety Audit of Schools

*343. Dr. Alok Kumar Suman:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to carry out/undertake safety audit of all the schools in the country to prevent the death of students, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  details  of  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  the  death  of  students  due  to collapse of the school buildings in the country; and
- (c)  the  stipulated  timeframe  for  the  completion  of  safety  audit  of  the  schools  along  with  the details of other preventive measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (c):

A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 343 FOR 18.08.2025 ASKED BY HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT  DR.  ALOK  KUMAR  SUMAN  REGARDING  SAFETY  AUDIT  OF SCHOOLS

(a) to (c): Education is in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools are  under  the  administrative  control  of  respective  State  Government  and  UT  Administration. Guidelines issued by Ministry of Education are advisory in nature and States/UTs are expected to implement them and they may incorporate additions/modifications to them, according to their specific requirements.

The Ministry of Education has issued a latest directive on 26 th July 2025 to all States and Union Territories to take urgent steps to ensure the student safety and well-being. This refers to the "Guidelines on School Safety and Security" (2021) and the National Disaster Management Guidelines on School Safety (NDMA, 2016) issued on 27.02.2017 and includes safety audits of schools and child-related facilities as per national safety codes, training for staff and students in emergency  preparedness,  and  the  provision  of  psychosocial  support  through  counselling  and peer  networks.  The  Ministry  has  urged  Education  Departments,  School  Boards,  and  affiliated authorities to act without delay in implementing these measures. The directives are available on the link: https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/update/ss2607.pdf

Further,  the  Ministry  of  Education  on  7 th August  2025,  has  directed  all  States/UTs  to ensure  the  structural  safety  of  school  buildings  and  urgent  identification  of  unsafe  and dilapidated school buildings through safety audits, followed by demolition, if required or repair of  structurally  unsafe  structures,  and  prohibition  of  use,  until  certified  safe.  Authorities  are advised  to  arrange  temporary  schooling  where  needed,  gainfully  use  the  space  created  due  to demolition,  ensure  regular  monitoring  and  reporting,  and  ensure  safety/  structural  fitness compliance certification for any re-occupancy. States/ UTs are instructed to strictly enforce the above measures and avoid any further injuries and loss of life due to preventable infrastructure failures. The directives are available on the link: https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/update/ss07008.pdf

Earlier,  Government  of  India  has  issued  various  guidelines  for  ensuring  safety  and security of children in schools, as under: -

1. Guidelines  on  School  Safety  and  Security  by  Department  of  School  Education  and Literacy  issued  on  01.10.2021.  These  guidelines  are  uploaded  on  the  website  of  DoSEL  at https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-10/guidelines\_sss.pdf
2. Guidelines  on  School  Safety  Policy  by  the  National  Disaster  Management  Authority (NDMA, 2016) issued on 27.02.2017. These guidelines are available at the link: https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/rte/Guidelines\_feb.pdf
3. NCPCR examined  and  compiled  different  guidelines  and  developed  a  comprehensive manual titled- 'Manual on Safety and Security of Children in Schools' dated 26.02.2018. The manual is available at the link: https://ncpcr.gov.in/uploads/165604923562b54e531fe87\_manual-on-safety-and-security-ofchildren-in-schools-sep-2021-2465-kb.pdf

These  guidelines  interalia  contain  provisions  for  ensuring  the  safety  and  security  of children in schools and fixing the accountability of various stakeholders and different departments.

The  guidelines  aim  to  foster  collaboration  among  stakeholders  for  a  safe  school environment, raise awareness of existing safety policies, clarify roles in implementation, assign accountability  for  child  safety  during  school  activities  and  transportation,  and  enforce  a  strict 'Zero Tolerance Policy' against negligence.

The  NDMA  guidelines  provide  for  monitoring  of  implementation  of  the  National Disaster  Management  Guidelines  on  School  Safety  Policy  on  designated activities like conducting  safety  audits,  annual  mock  drills,  installation  of  fire-extinguishers,  training  of students and teachers in school safety and disaster preparedness, adherence to safety norms with respect to storage of inflammable and toxic material and grant of recognition certificate only to those schools that comply with structural safety norms specifically pertain to fire safety.

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