Govt orders safety audit of 1.4 lakh schools

Lucknow: The state govt on Friday decided to conduct a comprehensive safety audit and risk assessment in all govt and aided schools across the state.Under this initiative, safety arrangements in 1.4 lakh schools, including primary, upper primary, composite, secondary, and Kasturba Gandhi Residential Vidyalayas (KGBV), will be evaluated.For this, the basic and secondary education department has collaborated with the Bennett Coleman and Company Limited (BCCL) that will identify safety-related risks in each school, and provide corrective recommendations to ensure prevention of possible future accidents.Officials said schools will be assessed on the basis of scientific and technical standards.A detailed inspection will be carried out covering various aspects related to student safety, including the structural condition of school buildings, fire safety, electrical safety, disaster management preparedness, sanitation facilities, entry and exit systems and overall campus security.Potential safety risks will also be identified, and detailed recommendations for corrective measures will be prepared.“The findings are expected to support evidence-based planning and infrastructure improvements across the school ecosystem,” said an official.