New beginnings on June 2nd

There are not many days left for schools to reopen in the state. When children arrive at school on June 2nd, their safety should be the top priority. The education department is busy conducting meetings in this regard minding the heavy rainfall warning in the upcoming days. A high-level meeting chaired by State Education Minister V. Sivankutty has decided to demolish dangerous buildings and cut down trees in school premises, minding the importance of child safety.

Despite new buildings popping up, the demolition of the old ones in school sites was stopped citing technical reasons. Thus, the new decision from the government is prudent and one that assures relief.

The high-level meeting also assessed the situation where the new buildings were not deemed fit due to their proximity to old buildings. It was decided to issue necessary instructions to the district collectors under the Disaster Management Act and to initiate the process of demolishing the buildings by the local self-government bodies. Improper storing of demolition debris in school compounds can cause accidents. Tree branches that are dangerously growing over school buildings, including those on private property, will also be cut down.

School buildings that pose a threat to students’ lives will not get access to fitness certificates. Since it is impossible to predict the intensity of the rainy season, the Department of Education, local self-government bodies and the respective school authorities should take the initiative to implement safety measures that anticipate future accidents. At the same time, it is also not right to deny fitness based on minor issues such as plastering of walls, lack of false ceilings, and defects in the size of the classroom.

To ensure safety, traffic officials and the Motor Vehicles Department should conduct inspections without compromise. Inspections should be made frequently to not allow drivers of school buses to be at the wheel in an inebriated state. Appropriate action should follow if private buses deny travel access to school students.

If the PTA, alumni, various voluntary organizations, and government departments join hands to implement the aforementioned ideas, a great academic year is on the cards for Kerala.