Team Herald
PANJIM: Concerned over the safety of school children, the Directorate of Education (DoE) has directed schools to engage drivers and helpers only after getting their antecedents verified by the police.
DoE Director Vandana Rao has issued circular in this regard to all the heads of government, government-aided and unaided primary, secondary and higher secondary and special schools, directing them to adhere to the instructions failing which stringent action will be taken against school authorities.
Rao said in light of the various incidents of abuse of school going children on their way to and back from schools; it has become necessary that all possible steps are taken to ensure safety of school children in their journey to and from the school.
“An important step in this regard would be to have police verification carried out in respect of the drivers and helpers and others of bus, van, auto-rickshaw ferrying school children,” she said in the circular.
The director said Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has instructed that the staff may be engaged for ferrying school children only after police verification of their character and antecedents is completed.
“Moreover, with the passage of time, a person may be affected by many psycho-socio factors in his immediate or distant environment. It would be therefore be desirable that the police verification is repeated after every two years, so as to ensure continued safety of the children during their journey,” Rao said.
The department has warned of stringent action against the school authorities in case of any violation or lapse with regards to the safety and well being of school children.
