The subject of safeguarding in schools is challenging. It has an equal effect on teachers, parents, and administrations in addition to having a negative impression on the children. While ensuring school safety is everyone’s duty, schools should periodically remind the appropriate stakeholders of their duties.
These days, children spend most of their time in school, thus it is crucial for all parties involved to assure that each student is always safe both on the school property and during daily commutes to and from it. Listed below are a few recommendations that can assist to improve school safety and transform them into safe spaces.
Surveillance system
As an aspect of their school security system, most schools have CCTV cameras. A school’s security policy requires a little more than installing CCTV cameras in every area of the building to record activity. When deployed exclusively, CCTV cameras cannot guarantee the entire safety of students on the school grounds. However, they can be used in conjunction with the most recent security measures to track the students and raise an alarm when the youngster is in danger. Such approaches assist schools in stepping up their security procedures.
Vigilance
Each student should be watched while on school property since it helps schools stop them from engaging in any dubious or improper behavior. While CCTVs can be used to keep an eye on student behavior, a smart, sensor-based security system can be quite beneficial. Schools can use real-time tracking to ensure that students are in the right place & time and out of harm’s way. When the system detects an unexpected activity in a pupil, an alarm is sent to security, safeguarding their safety. By emphasizing the value of school safety and security, school management can also teach students to inform the appropriate party of any questionable activity.
Fencing the premises
Most of the schools, frequently take care of this as well. Schools can make use of technology, which alerts security whenever a legitimate person enters a restricted area using sensors. After their shift, employees are not permitted to enter the classroom or even remain on the property. Students are not allowed to hang out in the building after school hours or disturb other students while they are in class. Any security infringement can be corrected right away.
Smart ID Cards
Every student in the school is given an identity card because it enables the administration to accurately account for all the members of the school by maintaining attendance. A Smart-ID Card, which has an integrated sensor that helps track moments, modern technologies can be linked with clever algorithms. The teachers can individually mark attendance for each student during his/ her class. The use of such technology can also assist in keeping track of instances when a student is on the school’s campus but not in class.
Crisis management team & plan
The school administration should form a school safety team. The safety team prepares plans for unforeseen events like fire, natural disasters, and more that could potentially pose a threat to the lives of the occupants.
School ID card
All the student’s smart id cards should have the names of the parent/ guardian responsible to pick them up after dismissal from the school and to be contacted in case of an emergency. This practice would assist the school in taking care of the students.
First-aid
The school safety plan includes first aid treatment as well as registration with the nearest hospital to stay prepared for an emergency. In addition to this, school staff, Bus attendants should be trained on basic first aid techniques.
Bus lady marshals
All the buses must have a lady marshal to look after the safety & well-being of the children. Lady marshals to be provided with a walkie-talkie for smoother communication in case of a mishap. The lady marshal will be responsible for handing over the kid to the parent/ guardian and maintaining the record by scanning the smart ID issued to the parent/ guardian.
Fire safety plan
The school safety team is responsible to develop a fire safety plan and getting it approved by the police and fire department. In addition to this schools to have necessary firefighting equipment installed in the building such as smoke detectors, automatic water sprinklers, and correct types of fire extinguishers as a backup.
Emergency contacts
Each classroom shall be equipped with an emergency intercom and should display all the emergency contact numbers to respond to an emergency at the earliest. This could play a major role in saving lives.
Inspection
There have been cases when the accidents occurred due to ignorance of a threat at a site, for example, potholes on the playground. Inspections play a vital role as they eliminate risks. This routine inspection should cover aspects like damage as well as hygiene.
Restrooms
Many times, kids get locked in the restroom especially when there is no attendant, periodic checks facilitate in maintaining the mishaps in this scenario. Installing an emergency button, and installation of smoke detectors are just some measures to increase safety levels concerning restrooms.
Elevators
Lift maintenance should be done periodically as children being stuck in the lift is the most common scenario seen nowadays. Children below the age group 10 years, should not be allowed to board the elevator alone. A lift attendant must be always present, and a glass lift can be installed.
Counsellor
Mental health of today’s youth is sensitive, to make them feel heard and seen, schools should consider a department dedicated to student-teacher welfare. Fixed timings included in the timetable for an easy approach for students as well as teachers. A lady counsellor to be available and offer advice to help students come out of any trauma if needed.
One in three students at Indian schools, according to a report published in February 2022 by the Child Fund Alliance, an international network of 11 child-focused development organizations feels dangerous. According to the findings of a global survey carried out in 41 nations, children in India had ‘serious concerns’ about poor infrastructure, a shortage of rest-rooms, corporal punishment, bullying, and other safety problems in schools.
It is time to take steps ahead to ensure the security of our future leaders and make them feel safe at the most important part of their lives. Recognizing risks and providing effective safety measures will be beneficial for the country.
