Even a month after Gurugram Ryan School student gruesome murder case, most private schools are finding it difficult to implement the safety regulations notified by the Haryana Government. Haryana private schools today observed ‘Black Day’ to protest against ‘arbitrary’ regulations slapped on them post Ryan School case. Under the banner of National Independent Schools Association (NISA), school owners and teacher wore a black arm band to register their protest against state government’s guidelines.
Across Haryana, the schools under NISA banner are alleging government high handedness post the Pradyumn murder case. Kulbhushan Sharma, President of NISA says, “The new safety regulations were slapped on the schools without any consultation, the private schools have been asked to comply with them but the government run schools have been given relaxation.” “This distinction has been made since the Government is aware that most safety regulations will be difficult for it to implement, but officials want us to fulfill them,” he added.
Private schools are protesting against police verification of teachers especially female, limiting school bus speed to 30 kmph, mandatory female teacher and conductor onboard school bus, high boundary wall around school campus.
These safety regulations are part of a 24 page guidelines for schools to ensure an incident like Ryan School case is not repeated. “We have installed CCTVs, fire fighting equipments but teachers are frightened at the idea of a cop visiting her place for verification especially in those coming from villages, also the strict guidelines for teachers in the regulations are tough on them,” says Dinesh Joshi, Chairman, Kailash Public School in Gurugram.
“We are not permitted to hike fees mid session, most schools are finding it tough to raise funds for cost intensive safety regulations like construction of high boundary wall and install CCTVs, female teachers are reluctant to travel early morning in the school bus along with children, some of our old male staff on buses are likely to lose their jobs, government should have at least taken the school owners into confidence before finalizing these safety regulations,” says Mr Joshi.
