Lok Sabha Question No. 964 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-02
Subject: Guidelines for Safety of Students in Schools
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 964

ANSWERED ON 02/12/2024

## Guidelines for Safety of Students in Schools

†964. Shri Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to issue any guidelines to promote the safety of students and to impart them moral education in both Public and Private Schools;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c)  the  details  of  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  against  the  Private Schools wherein students are compelled to do other activities beyond their regular studies?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SH. JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a) & (b): Government of India has issued various guidelines from time to time 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. 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

3. Guidelines  on  School  Safety  Policy  by  the  National  Disaster  Management  Authority (NDMA) issued on 27.02.2017. These guidelines are available at the link:

https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/rte/Guidelines\_feb.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. DoSEL guidelines 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. 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.

The  NEP  2020  and  National  Curriculum  Framework  for  school  education  2023 emphatically states integration of value based learning into all subjects, including mathematics, science, and social sciences, to help students understand the real-world implications of ethical and moral values and the same is translated into curriculum, syllabus and textbooks.

National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023 integrates the development of values and dispositions  into  the  Learning  Standards,  pedagogical  processes,  Assessments,  and  the  overall culture of schools and classrooms. The framework ensures that values are not treated as standalone concepts but are woven into the fabric of daily learning experiences.

(c) The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)  has taken steps to ensure balance in activities in all schools affiliated to it including private schools. CBSE has advised schools to adhere  to  the  recommendations  of  the  National  Curriculum  Framework  (NCF)  2023  which provides exemplar timetables for various stages to ensure an appropriate balance between regular studies and other activities. CBSE has developed and disseminated School Quality Assessment and  Assurance  Framework  (SQAAF),  which  inter  alia  includes  detailed  benchmarks  and parameters  for  all  activities  including  regular  academic  and  co-curricular  activities.  The framework guides schools to maintain quality of education. CBSE has been training schools to make use of this framework and improve their quality of education. CBSE emphasizes that all activities conducted in schools should link directly or indirectly to achieve learning outcomes and foster holistic development.

****