UT schools must report safety incidents within 24 hours under new audit order
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Chandigarh: All schools in Chandigarh have been directed to report any safety-related incident, near miss, or hazard within 24 hours of its occurrence, as per a new enforcement order issued by the Directorate of School Education, UT Chandigarh.
The directive, applicable to all government, government-aided, private recognised, and Central Government schools, forms part of the newly issued School Safety Audit Guidelines.
The 24-hour mandatory reporting rule aims to instil a culture of institutional vigilance and immediate accountability. Any lapse in timely reporting will invite strict action, reinforcing the administration's declared zero-tolerance policy towards negligence that endangers student safety.
The guidelines also mandate a comprehensive safety audit to be carried out by all schools, with detailed compliance reports to be submitted to the District Education Officer (DEO) by August 30. The DEO will submit a consolidated status report to the Directorate by Sept 10.
The audits are to cover several critical safety components including the structural integrity of buildings, condition of fire safety systems, status of electrical wiring, and access control at gates and boundary walls.
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Disaster preparedness measures such as marked evacuation routes and functioning alarms are to be verified. The School Safety and Disaster Management Plan must be prominently displayed in every classroom.
In addition to physical safety, the guidelines include psycho-social safeguards. Schools must provide access to counselling services, implement peer-support mechanisms, and conduct regular mental health awareness activities.
The aim is to create an emotionally safe and inclusive environment that supports student well-being.
All school personnel and students are required to undergo regular emergency preparedness training, including evacuation drills and first aid sessions, to be conducted in coordination with the Fire Department, Police, Health Department, and the State Disaster Management Authority.
Responsibility for audit compliance has been clearly defined.
Government schools are to be inspected by civil, electrical, and public health teams deployed by the Chief Engineer, UT Chandigarh. Government-aided, private recognised, and Central Government schools must engage certified safety audit agencies at their own level.
The guidelines also place strong emphasis on community participation. Schools are expected to involve School Management Committees (SMCs), Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), and local stakeholders in regular safety walks, incident monitoring, and feedback mechanisms to ensure a shared culture of accountability.
Importantly, the order outlines that heads of schools, management bodies, and teachers are individually accountable for implementing all provisions, including the 24-hour reporting rule. Safety of students during commute is also included in their scope of responsibility.
Officials say that while the national School Safety and Security Guidelines issued in 2021 were largely advisory, Chandigarh's directive gives the framework enforcement teeth.
It integrates legal mandates from the RTE Act, Juvenile Justice Act, and POCSO Act, and incorporates performance metrics from NEP 2020 and the Performance Grading Index.
Describing the 24-hour rule as a pivotal shift in approach, Director School Education Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar said, "This is not just about reacting to emergencies. It's about building a culture where prevention, preparedness, and response are institutional habits.
Accountability starts the moment something goes wrong and it must be recorded within a day."
With enforceable deadlines, defined responsibilities, and direct administrative oversight, Chandigarh's safety audit framework marks a systemic shift in how school safety is structured and monitored.
BOXES
What Chandigarh schools must comply with by August 30
1. 24-hour reporting rule
All incidents, near-misses, or hazards must be reported within 24 hours
Mandatory for all school types; non-reporting will attract action
2. Comprehensive safety audit
Assess: building stability, fire safety, electrical wiring, boundary walls, gates
Evaluate: evacuation routes, alarms, first-aid kits
3. Emergency preparedness
Evacuation drills and first-aid training for all staff and students
Must be coordinated with Fire, Police, Health, and Disaster Management teams
Safety and disaster plan to be displayed in every classroom
4. Psychosocial safety
Schools must provide counselling, peer-support systems, and mental health activities
5. Community involvement
SMCs, PTAs, and local stakeholders to join safety walks, feedback, and vigilance
6. Audit responsibility by school type
Govt schools: audit by UT engineering teams
Aided, private, central govt schools: audit via certified agencies
7. Reporting and monitoring timeline
Schools to submit compliance reports by August 30
DEO to submit compiled audit status to Directorate by September 10
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