14-Sept-17
The CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) yesterday
asked 19500 affiliated schools to put all their employees through a
psychometric evaluation against the backdrop of the murder of a child in a Gurgaon
school allegedly by its bus attendant.
If CBSE passes ahead with the move, the scale and
sweep of the test will be unprecedented: around 10 lakh employees including
teachers, spread over 26 countries will have to be evaluated.
Psychometric tests are used to measure an individual's
mental capabilities and behavioural style. The tests are designed to measure a
candidate's suitability for a rule based on the required personality
characteristics and aptitude. The evaluation is done by a professional
psychologist.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which
functions under the administrative control of the union ministry of human
resources and development (MHRD), has issued a circular asking for a security
and safety audit of the premises and personal by police within 2 months.
"They must get the police verification and
psychometric evaluation done for all the staff employed. Such verification and
evaluation for non teaching staff such as bus drivers, attendants, peon and
other supporting staff may be done very carefully and in a detailed manner,
"said the circular issued by deputy secretary Jaiprakash Chaturvedi.
"It is reiterated that all schools affiliated
with the CBSE are directed to strictly adhere to all the guidelines issued by
the MHRD and the board from time to time. Any violation / lapses with regard to
the safety and well-being of children on campus would invite appropriate
action, including the disaffiliation of the school ....,"the circular
adds.
Schools affiliated to the CBSE are spread over 26
countries and employ around 10 lakh people. CBSE affiliated schools in India
include around 1100 Kendriya Vidyalayas
(K.V), 600 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, 2700 schools run or aided by the
state governments and 14900 private schools.
Though CBSE's move is being welcomed but from the
expert sources it is understood that psychometric test will be quite a
time-taking process. Evaluation of each person should take minimum half an hour
to one hour. The process would involve use of cards and expressions followed by
a few questions to understand a person's cognitive ability and personality
trait. If the expert feels that the person is faking the answer, the person may
be subjected to a detailed evaluation.
Earlier CBSE through another circular had asked the
schools to install CCTV cameras in all vulnerable areas on the school premises
and also ensure that that are functional round the clock. The schools have to
ensure that the supporting staffs are employed only from authorised agencies
and records are maintained.
Each school is required to constitute a parent-teacher-students
committee to address the safety needs and to take regular feedback from
parents. Moreover, the access to school building by outsiders must be
controlled, monitored and staff should be provided training to address their
responsibilities to protect children from any form of abuse, the circular said.
Some words of caution automatically arises: In the current backdrop of
some heinous incidents in these schools that have happened in the country
parents need to verify security related measures and be extremely careful
before putting their dear ones, especially in private schools.
(Source: The Telegraph, edited)
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