Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Education addressed concerns regarding school safety and public facilities buildings used by children. In response to questions raised in Lok Sabha, the Ministry detailed directives issued to States and Union Territories (UTs) regarding safety audits, structural safety, and implementation of existing safety guidelines. The Ministry emphasizes the advisory nature of its guidelines, expecting States/UTs to adapt them as needed and take immediate action to ensure student safety and well-being.
Key Points / Main Content:
Directives and Guidelines:
* Ministry of Education issued directives on July 26, 2025, urging States/UTs to ensure student safety and wellbeing, referencing "Guidelines on School Safety and Security" 2021 and NDMA guidelines on School Safety, 2016.
* Directives include safety audits, emergency preparedness training for staff and students, and psychosocial support.
* Ministry of Education issued directives on August 7, 2025, instructing States/UTs to ensure structural safety of school buildings via safety audits, demolition/repair of unsafe buildings, and prohibition of use until certified safe.
* Temporary schooling arrangements and structural fitness compliance certifications are mandated before reoccupancy.
* Earlier guidelines for ensuring child safety and security include:
* "Guidelines on School Safety and Security" (October 1, 2021).
* "Guidelines on School Safety Policy" by NDMA (February 27, 2017).
* "Manual on Safety and Security of Children in Schools" by NCPCR (February 26, 2018).
Safety and Security Provisions:
* Guidelines foster stakeholder collaboration, raise awareness of safety policies, clarify roles, assign accountability, and enforce a Zero Tolerance Policy against negligence.
* NDMA guidelines include monitoring safety audits, annual mock drills, fire extinguisher installation, and safety training.
* Recognition certificates are to be granted only to schools complying with structural and fire safety norms.
Financial Assistance:
* The Samagra Shiksha scheme provides budgetary provisions for strengthening school infrastructure to address safety gaps.
* Funds can be allocated for repairs, retrofitting, and other civil works in annual proposals by State/UT governments.
* Supplementary resources are available through convergence with other departments/Ministries.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments and UT Administrations:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing Ministry of Education guidelines, adapting them to local needs, and ensuring student safety and well-being in schools under their administrative control.
* Action Required: Take urgent steps to conduct safety audits, ensure structural safety, implement emergency preparedness measures, and allocate funds for safety improvements. They must also enforce compliance with safety standards and provide regular monitoring and reporting.
Education Departments, School Boards, and Affiliated Authorities:
* Impact: Required to act without delay in implementing safety measures and directives issued by the Ministry of Education.
* Action Required: Implement safety measures, conduct safety audits, ensure structural safety, and provide training for staff and students.
School Staff and Students:
* Impact: Directly affected by the implementation of safety measures, training programs, and emergency preparedness protocols.
* Action Required: Participate in training and capacity-building programs to enhance emergency preparedness and adhere to safety guidelines.
Under-resourced Schools:
* Impact: May require financial assistance to implement safety measures and conduct audits as per norms.
* Action Required: Utilize available budgetary provisions under the Samagra Shiksha scheme and explore convergence with other departments/Ministries for supplementary resources.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Education: The central government ministry responsible for education in India, which issued the directives and guidelines mentioned in the document.
States and Union Territories: The administrative divisions within India to which the Ministry of Education's directives and guidelines are addressed.
Guidelines on School Safety and Security 2021: A set of guidelines issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, regarding safety and security measures in schools.
National Disaster Management Guidelines on School Safety NDMA, 2016: Guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority concerning school safety and disaster preparedness.
National Disaster Management Authority: The apex body for disaster management in India, responsible for issuing guidelines related to school safety.
Samagra Shiksha: A centrally sponsored scheme of the Government of India to improve school effectiveness measured in terms of equal opportunities for schooling and equitable learning outcomes.
Manual on Safety and Security of Children in Schools: A comprehensive manual compiled by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on safety and security measures for children in schools.
Department of School Education and Literacy: A department within the Ministry of Education responsible for school education and literacy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4011
ANSWERED ON 18/08/2025
Safety Audits of School and Public Facilities Buildings
4011. Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane:
Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao:
Shri Sudheer Gupta:
Shri Manish Jaiswal:
Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth:
Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar:
Shri Manickam Tagore B:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has directed all States/UTs to conduct safety audits of school and public
facilities buildings used by children in accordance with national safety codes and disaster
management guidelines, if so, the details thereof and response of the State Governments/UTs thereto;
(b) the details of key parameters likely to be assessed, outline the standard safety protocols and
emergency preparedness measures during these audits;
(c) whether any timeline or schedule set for conducting comprehensive safety audits along with
completion of these audits and submission of reports to the Government and if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of safeguards put in place to ensure that the safety audits are conducted independently,
transparently and without any bias or administrative interference;
(e) the details of mechanism put in place to monitor compliance and ensure remedial action in case
of shortcomings found during the said audits;
(f) whether the Government made any provisions for financial assistance or budgetary allocations to
enable under-resourced schools to implement safety measures and carry out audits as per norms and
if so, the details thereof; and
(g) whether the Government also proposes to provide training and capacity-building programmes to
staff and students for emergency preparedness in all the schools and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (g): Education is in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools are
under the administrative control of respective State Government and UT Administration. Guidelines
issued by Ministry of Education are advisory in nature and States/UTs are expected to implement
them and they may incorporate additions/modifications to them, according to their specific
requirements.
The Ministry of Education has issued a latest directive on 26th July 2025 to all States and
Union Territories to take urgent steps to ensure the student safety and well-being. This refers to the
"Guidelines on School Safety and Security" (2021) and the National Disaster Management
Guidelines on School Safety (NDMA, 2016) issued on 27.02.2017 and includes safety audits of
schools and child-related facilities as per national safety codes, training for staff and students in
emergency preparedness, and the provision of psychosocial support through counselling and peernetworks. The Ministry has urged Education Departments, School Boards, and affiliated authorities
to act without delay in implementing these measures. The directives are available on the link:
https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/update/ss2607.pdf
Further, the Ministry of Education on 7th August 2025, has directed all States/UTs to ensure
the structural safety of school buildings and urgent identification of unsafe and dilapidated school
buildings through safety audits, followed by demolition, if required or repair of structurally unsafe
structures, and prohibition of use, until certified safe. Authorities are advised to arrange temporary
schooling where needed, gainfully use the space created due to demolition, ensure regular monitoring
and reporting, and ensure safety/ structural fitness compliance certification for any re-occupancy.
States/ UTs are instructed to strictly enforce the above measures and avoid any further injuries and
loss of life due to preventable infrastructure failures. The directives are available on the link:
https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/update/ss07008.pdf
Earlier, Government of India has issued various guidelines for ensuring safety and security of
children in schools, as under: -
1. Guidelines on School Safety and Security by Department of School Education and Literacy
issued on 01.10.2021. These guidelines are uploaded on the website of DoSEL at
https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-10/guidelines_sss.pdf
2. Guidelines on School Safety Policy by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA,
2016) issued on 27.02.2017. These guidelines are available at the link:
https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/rte/Guidelines_feb.pdf
3. NCPCR examined and compiled different guidelines and developed a comprehensive manual
titled- “Manual on Safety and Security of Children in Schools” dated 26.02.2018. The manual is
available at the link: https://ncpcr.gov.in/uploads/165604923562b54e531fe87_manual-on-safety-
and-security-of-children-in-schools-sep-2021-2465-kb.pdf
These guidelines interalia contain provisions for ensuring the safety and security of children
in schools and fixing the accountability of various stakeholders and different departments.
The guidelines aim to foster collaboration among stakeholders for a safe school environment,
raise awareness of existing safety policies, clarify roles in implementation, assign accountability for
child safety during school activities and transportation, and enforce a strict ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’
against negligence.
The NDMA guidelines provide for monitoring of implementation of the National Disaster
Management Guidelines on School Safety Policy on designated activities like conducting safety
audits, annual mock drills, installation of fire-extinguishers, training of students and teachers in
school safety and disaster preparedness, adherence to safety norms with respect to storage of
inflammable and toxic material and grant of recognition certificate only to those schools that comply
with structural safety norms specifically pertain to fire safety.
Under Samagra Shiksha scheme, budgetary provisions for the strengthening of school
infrastructure, including financial support to address gaps found in safety audits, are available. Funds
can be allocated for repairs, retrofitting, classroom, drinking water, electricity, toilets for girls, boys
and CWSN, boundary walls and other civil works by including it in annual proposals by State/ UT
governments. Supplementary resources are available through convergence with other departments/
Ministries including department of drinking water and sanitation, Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs, Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Rural Development (MGNREGA), Ministry of Home Affairs
(NDRF), etc.
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