India: Delhi government plans to install cameras in schools

By APD writer Rishika Chauhan

**NEW DELHI, September 20 (APD) ** - The Delhi government is planning to install cameras in the classrooms of its 1,029 schools to ensure safety and security of students.

An official from the Directorate of Education said, “We will install CCTV cameras in each of the classrooms in all of our schools to ensure safety and security of our students.”

The government has also directed all private recognised schools in the national capital region to install “sufficient” CCTV cameras in their premises with recording facility of atleast15 days.

Two years ago, cameras were installed in all government schools, however, they covered only the main gate and some of the corridors.

However many suspect that there could be some cameras that may not be working due to technical and repair issues.

Additionally, in an order released on Friday, the Directorate of Education (DOE) asked all private schools to submit details about police verification of their employees on the DOE portal.

Through the order, Saumya Gupta, the Director of Education said, “…all private unaided recognized schools are hereby directed to install sufficient number of CCTV cameras in school premises so as to mandatorily cover all classrooms, labs, corridors, parking, library, vacant rooms, the areas outside washrooms, and all isolated areas and ensure 360 degrees coverage of the entire school premises.”

The government’s directions come shortly after recent cases of crime against children in schools.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)