School Directorate tells CEOs, School Heads to coordinate with R&B for urgent safety audit of buildings

VIKAS SHARMA
JAMMU, AUG 31: Officers of the School Education Department across Jammu division have been directed to immediately coordinate with the Public Works (R&B) Department to conduct a safety audit of all government school buildings in view of the ongoing heavy rains and landslides in the region.

The fresh instructions were issued by the Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) to all Chief Education Officers (CEOs) and Heads of Institutions, stressing that the structural safety of every school must be examined on priority. The order also makes it mandatory for institutions to obtain safety certificates from competent authorities, warning that any lapse will be taken seriously.

Though the Directorate had earlier, on July 29, 2025, ordered a comprehensive audit of school infrastructure, this time the circular has emphasized direct coordination with R&B engineers for thorough inspections, marking the exercise as “Most Urgent.” CEOs and school heads have been asked to personally monitor the process and ensure strict compliance.

The directive comes amid heightened concern over the vulnerability of educational institutions in hilly and flood-prone areas, where incessant rainfall has triggered landslides, damaged roads, and posed a threat to old and dilapidated school buildings.

Hundreds of Schools Declared Unsafe

The renewed urgency is underscored by the fact that, earlier this year, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary—who also holds charge of the R&B Department—informed the Assembly that 765 school buildings across Jammu and Kashmir had been declared unsafe. He further revealed that 11 bridges were unfit for use and another 371 bridges required major or minor repairs.

Monitoring and Temporary Measures

District CEOs have already begun mobilizing inspection teams, especially in vulnerable areas such as Ramban, Doda, Poonch, and Kishtwar. In several cases, temporary measures like shifting students to nearby safer buildings or suspending classes during heavy rains are being considered until safety clearances are obtained.

Focus on Long-Term Safety

While the ongoing safety audit addresses immediate concerns, educationists insist on long-term infrastructure reforms. They have urged the government to reconstruct unsafe school buildings, strengthen monitoring mechanisms, and conduct mandatory annual safety audits ahead of every monsoon season.

The DSEJ’s directive, therefore, not only seeks urgent risk mitigation but also highlights the pressing need for durable solutions to safeguard students and teachers in Jammu and Kashmir’s government schools.