Panaji: The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSPCR) has recommended that state govt conduct periodic safety inspections of all govt school buildings to prevent incidents that could endanger students’ lives.The commission inspected Govt High School, Shirgao, to assess the condition of its infrastructure, verify the status of the demolition of its unsafe building, evaluate the safety of students attending classes and review measures taken by the directorate of education to ensure a safe learning environment.The commission noted that demolition of the old unsafe building, as directed in earlier proceedings, is under way.
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The school has 52 students from Classes V to X, who are currently accommodated in another building. However, the inspection found that this structure also poses serious safety concerns.“The ceiling slab of the building has exposed reinforcement bars (iron rods), indicating deterioration of the concrete and possible structural weakness. Visible cracks were noticed on several walls of the building, raising concerns regarding the structural stability of the premises,” the commission’s inspection report said.The report added that no structural inspection or technical assessment of the building had been carried out in the past two years despite repeated concerns over its condition.The commission recommended that directorate of education immediately conduct a comprehensive structural stability audit of the building through the public works department (PWD) or another govt-approved structural engineer.“Pending the structural safety assessment, the directorate shall ensure that no student is exposed to any potential risk. If the building is found unsafe, immediate alternative accommodation shall be arranged,” the commission said.It also recommended periodic safety inspections of all govt school buildings to prevent incidents that could endanger children.In a separate inspection of a govt high school in Merces, the commission found that all 85 students from Classes V to X were made to sit on the floor for about an hour because no desks or benches were available in the classrooms. Students, including those in Class X, were also dispersed before the scheduled end of the school day due to inadequate facilities.
