Schools in the Capital spruced up security in the wake of the recent terror attack on a Peshawar school.
From installing more Closed Circuit Television cameras to giving walkie-talkies to security guards and issuing identity cards to parents, city schools are doing it all. They are also keeping in touch with the local police.
These measures have been taken after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs sounded an alert and advised schools to be cautious.
Air Force Bal Bharti School, which already maintains high security being an Air Force school, has enhanced security since the terror attack.
Principal Anand Swaroop said: “Security has been enhanced in the school post the Peshawar attack. Now there is a PCR van deployed outside the school at all times, along with policemen. We are also constantly in touch with the local policemen of the area, including the station house office of the local police station.”
The Shri Ram Schools have also enhanced security in all their branches. The new set of guidelines was formally communicated to the parents through a written note. The enhanced guidelines include keeping the entry and exit gates locked at all times, not allowing students to be sent home at the time of a cultural function unless there is written communication in the diary or via an e-mail which is acknowledged by the class teacher and verified by the Vice-Principal.
“Phone calls will not be entertained and parents will be allowed entry only on the basis of their child’s gate-pass, which they must carry. The school is soon going to issue identity cards to parents, after which no support staff/ maid or driver will be allowed entry in the school. A hooter has been installed at the security desk to raise an alarm in case of an emergency. Security guards will be sent on all-day trips along with the students in the buses. Security guards have been given walkie-talkies to facilitate quick communication,” a circular issued to the parents read.
While some schools have enhanced security measures, some others have decided to postpone important events till they get a better security system in place.
Delhi Public School, Noida, for example has decided to postpone its Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings. One of the measures is to issue identity cards to parents. “We didn’t want groups of unidentified people to come to PTAs. We have decided to give entry only to parents who have bona fide identity-cards,” Principal Kamini Bhasin told The Hindu .
She said DPS Society had conducted a security audit two months ago and decided to take steps like raising the boundary wall, restricting entry, increasing the number of CCTV cameras and guards, and issuing ID cards to parents, teachers and students.
“We have decided to speed up the process in view of the heightened security awareness and will hold PTA meetings after the winter break when additional security measures are in place.”
