The Union Ministry of Education has directed all States and Union Territories to conduct safety audits of school buildings, ensuring compliance with structural safety norms and identifying dilapidated structures that may pose risks to students.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Lok Sabha that the directive, issued on August 7, stresses a &ldquo;Zero Tolerance Policy&rdquo; towards negligence. Unsafe structures must either be demolished or repaired, with re-occupancy allowed only after certification of safety. Temporary schooling arrangements have also been advised where necessary.
The guidelines require regular monitoring, proper reporting, and strict enforcement to prevent incidents caused by infrastructure failures. Schools must also comply with existing child safety frameworks, including the School Safety and Security Guidelines (2021), the NDMA&rsquo;s School Safety Policy (2016), and the NCPCR&rsquo;s Manual on Safety and Security of Children in Schools (2018).
Additional measures include annual safety drills, fire-extinguisher installation, disaster preparedness training for teachers and students, and strict checks on hazardous material storage. Recognition certificates will only be granted to schools meeting structural and fire safety standards.
Pradhan emphasised that these policies aim to build a culture of accountability among stakeholders, foster collaboration, and ensure the safety of children during school activities and transportation.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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Education Ministry mandates safety audits of school buildings to prevent accidents

Centre Orders Safety Audit of All Schools

Education Ministry mandates safety audits of school buildings to prevent accidents

August 18, 2025 | 16:09 IST