Bengaluru: After Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy announced a ‘special package’ of Rs 150 crore to improve infrastructure at government primary, high school and PU colleges, including their structures, the education department will conduct a safety audit of school buildings.
The department will create a database by collecting comprehensive information on these buildings to avoid any mishaps as the safety of students is of utmost importance, officials said.
A department official told Deccan Chronicle that a list of all schools will be compiled.
“This will help the government in deciding the initiatives,” he said.
The department does not have comprehensive information on buildings and building plans. The steps are being taken following a Supreme Court order, directing states to implement the guidelines on school safety proposed by the National Disaster Management Authority.
Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) for Bengaluru South Ashwath Narayan Gowda said that special training sessions for various stakeholders at government schools are being organised to equip them to face any situation.
“Block Education Officers (BEOs) have been asked to conduct a survey of schools and to list the buildings that need repairs. On-field reports are expected to reach us by next week,” he said.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister N. Mahesh recently told the Legislative Council that as many as 5,588 school buildings are in a bad shape. He said that '1,494 crore was required to repair high school buildings and '1,087 crore for primary schools.
The contradictory statements of the chief minister and the minister show that a survey is essential to ensure that funds are used properly, MLC Arun Shahapur said.
“The condition of government school buildings has always been a concern. The education department announced in 2016 that a comprehensive survey will be conducted after two fourth grade students died after a wall collapsed on them at Yamakanamaradi Government Higher Primary School in Belagavi. Whether the report was submitted and any action was taken is still a mystery,” he said.
