Nagpur: In a major policy revision aimed at strengthening student safety, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued new instructions making it mandatory for all affiliated schools to install high-resolution CCTV cameras with audio-visual recording across key locations within their premises. In its earlier avatar, the policy was limited to a one-line mention that CCTV in schools need to ‘maintained and monitored’ regularly. The exhaustive new guidelines require CCTV cameras to be installed at all entry and exit points, lobbies, corridors, staircases, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, canteen areas, storerooms, playgrounds, and other common areas. Toilets and washrooms remain exempted. Schools must ensure that the CCTV cameras offer real-time audio-visual recording and are supported by storage devices capable of preserving footage for a minimum of 15 days. “It shall be ensured that a backup of a minimum 15 days be preserved, which may be accessed by the authorities, if required,” the notification stated. This directive has been formalised through an amendment in chapter 4 of the CBSE Affiliation Bye-Laws-2018, underlining the board’s increasing focus on creating safe educational spaces.According to the circular signed by board secretary Himanshu Gupta, schools must strictly comply with the new clause for safeguarding children’s safety and emotional well-being. Schools have been instructed to maintain regular monitoring and ensure that all equipment is functional at all times.CBSE cited the guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) which emphasise the critical need for continuous monitoring within schools. Quoting the NCPCR manual, CBSE reminded schools that “CCTVs in schools need to be monitored and maintained regularly.” The board underlined that creating a safe and supportive environment in schools is not limited to physical safety but extends to psychological and emotional protection as well.Officials highlighted that bullying, abuse, and other forms of harassment can severely impact students’ mental health, leading to issues such as stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Through continuous CCTV monitoring, such risks can be identified early and addressed promptly.The revised policy marks a shift from general surveillance to comprehensive, tech-enabled monitoring covering every critical zone of the campus. CBSE has asked all affiliated schools to strictly follow the revised clause both in letter and spirit, ensuring that student safety remains a top priority.
