Chandigarh, Aug. 4 -- In a renewed push towards student safety, the Chandigarh education department has issued a fresh set of stringent School Safety Audit Guidelines, putting the responsibility squarely on schools. The guidelines, issued by the UT directorate of school education, make schools directly accountable for ensuring the safety of their students, not just in terms of infrastructure but also psychosocial well-being. All schools in the city, including government, government-aided, private recognised and central government schools, must conduct a comprehensive safety audit assessing theirinfrastructure (see box) and submit compliance reports by August 30. The directive mandates that any accident safety lapse or even a near-miss must be reported to the authorities within 24 hours. Failure to do so will invite strict penalties, reinforcing a culture of vigilance and responsibility. The step comes days after a July 26 directive from the Union ministry of education, asking all states and UTs to conduct safety audits in schools. The ministry's order followed a tragedy in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district, where seven students were killed and 28 were injured after a school building collapsed. The new guidelines go beyond infrastructural checks. The directorate has also called upon the School Management Committees (SMCs), Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and local communities to play an active role in co-creating safe school environments. Schools are expected to involve stakeholders in "Safety Walks", mock drills and feedback forums to ensure community-rooted resilience. UT chief secretary Rajiv Verma described the guidelines as a "foundational reform", stating, "These School Safety Audit Guidelines reflect our unwavering commitment to creating learning environments where safety, dignity and preparedness are non-negotiable. We are building schools that meet not only Indian standards but aspire to match international best practices in safety." The district education officer will collect reports from all schools and submit a consolidated audit status to the directorate by September 10. While the Chandigarh Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR) had previously conducted a safety review after the tragic tree collapse incident at Carmel Convent School, Sector 9, in July 2022, all highlighted issues have not been addressed. A senior officer said, "This audit is far more comprehensive and places the responsibility on the schools themselves."...