The Delhi government has issued a comprehensive set of directions aimed at strengthening child safety in schools, making it mandatory for institutions to immediately report suspected sexual offences and remove employees accused of crimes against children from active duty pending legal proceedings.

Under the new guidelines, schools have also been directed to establish child protection committees, conduct awareness programmes, strengthen transport and campus safety measures, and submit compliance reports and self-certification documents to district authorities within 15 days. The Directorate of Education (DoE) said strict action would be taken against institutions that fail to implement the measures.

Schools Directed to Strengthen Child Protection Mechanisms

The directions form part of efforts to improve the implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on school campuses.

In a circular issued on Friday, the Directorate of Education said, “Any employee with a criminal record related to these offences must be suspended from active duty immediately, pending legal proceedings.”

The department has made background verification compulsory for all personnel associated with students, including teaching and non-teaching staff, contractual employees and other workers.

Employees will also be required to furnish affidavits declaring that they have no history of offences against children or violent crimes.

Schools have been instructed to report suspected cases of sexual abuse without waiting for the completion of internal inquiries. According to the circular, failure to comply with the mandatory reporting requirement could attract legal consequences, including imprisonment of up to one year for heads of institutions.

Joint inspection teams comprising education officials and police personnel will begin reviewing implementation of the guidelines from July.

Child Protection Committees and Awareness Programmes Made Mandatory

Schools have been directed to organise awareness sessions on child safety covering body autonomy, safe touch, online threats and available reporting mechanisms.

Students will also be educated about cyberbullying, grooming and sextortion, while teachers and staff will undergo training on provisions of the POCSO Act, the Juvenile Justice Act, mandatory reporting obligations and trauma-informed responses.

Parents are to be sensitised about child protection laws and the warning signs of abuse.

Each school has been instructed to constitute a child protection committee headed by the principal or head of the institution.

The committee will include a nodal teacher, parent representatives, counsellors or senior teachers, a child rights expert and a student representative.

The panel will meet every quarter to review complaints related to bullying, harassment and cyber abuse, monitor child safety measures and ensure proper reporting and maintenance of records.

New Measures Introduced for Campus and Transport Safety

The circular requires schools to preserve CCTV footage for at least 30 days following any incident and provide the recordings to investigating agencies whenever required.

Institutions have also been asked to ensure adequate lighting in corridors, maintain separate toilets for students and put in place visitor management systems.

Child helpline numbers must be displayed prominently, while schools have been directed to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards sexual abuse, bullying, ragging and harassment.

Periodic safety audits are to be conducted and confidential complaint boxes are to be installed in locations away from staff members and CCTV surveillance.

Detailed instructions have also been issued regarding school transport. Buses must be painted yellow and equipped with GPS devices and two fire extinguishers.

Driver details and emergency contact numbers are required to be displayed prominently. Drivers must possess valid commercial licences, have a minimum of five years’ experience and no criminal record.

The guidelines further state that female attendants should remain on board until the last child has been dropped home.

Staff Asked to Maintain Professional Boundaries

oThe circular lays down a code of conduct for school employees, requiring them to maintain professional boundaries and avoid isolated interactions with students.

Staff members have also been directed to behave respectfully in both physical and digital spaces.

Schools have been instructed to maintain the confidentiality of victims, preserve digital evidence in cyber-related cases and provide counselling and support to affected children.

Overall, the new framework introduces stricter staff screening measures, mandatory reporting obligations and regular monitoring mechanisms, while expanding safety protocols across classrooms, campuses, online platforms and school transportation.

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