Madhya Pradesh: Many Schools Don't Have CCTV Systems In Keeping With CBSE Norms In Bhopal

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Many schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in the city don’t have the CCTV surveillance systems in keeping with the norms fixed by the Board. There are 111 CBSE schools in Bhopal district, of which around 80 are in the state capital. Bhopal Sahodaya - the organisation of CBSE schools in the city, however, said that they would upgrade their systems in keeping with the latest norms specified by the Board.

The CBSE has instructed all its affiliated schools to install high-resolution CCTV cameras, equipped with real-time audiovisual monitoring at all entry and exit points, classrooms, corridors, and other common spaces, including libraries, staircases, storerooms, labs and canteens. Toilets and washrooms won’t have CCTV cameras due to privacy issues.

The latest directive by the CBSE aims to enhance the safety and well-being of students across school campuses and protect them against ‘bullying and other implicit threats’, as per the education board's circular.

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The CBSE has instructed that the CCTV recordings must be maintained for a minimum of 15 days to help ensure students’ safety and be made accessible for review by authorities, if needed.

President of Bhopal Sahodaya, an organisation of CBSE schools, Chaitanya Saxena told Free Press that all CBSE schools in the city already have CCTV cameras but they may not be meeting the norms fixed by the CBSE. “I am sure all our members will take the necessary steps in that direction,” he said.

“For us, the safety and security of students is of paramount importance,” said Saxena, who is also the principal of LNCT World School. “In my school, we have cameras in classrooms, playgrounds and staircases,” he said.

Saxena, however, added that what the CBSE circular has changed and now cameras of specific quality will have to be mandatorily installed at the designated places (which, for all purposes is everywhere, except toilets and washrooms). Also, they will need to have audio-visual (not only visual) recording facilities and the footage will have to be preserved for 15 days.