Schools are often described as a second home for children. Parents send their children to school every day with the belief that they will not only receive an education but also remain safe under the care of teachers and school authorities. However, recent incidents of student injuries and deaths have raised a question of student safety in schools, and parents are now more concerned about their children’s safety.
Recently, one incident took place at a private school named Maharishi Vidya Mandir in the Bansdroni area, which is in Kolkata, the tragic death of eight-year-old Ayush Kumar Nath once again this incident brought more concern about student safety in schools. According to reports, Ayush told his teacher that he was not feeling well due to the extreme heat and wanted to go home during the very first period instead of calling his parents or taking him to the medical room. He was allegedly asked to sit with his head down at the back of the classroom. Hours later, while leaving school, he collapsed and suffered a severe head injury that eventually led to his death after several days in a coma.
Regardless of the outcome of investigations, the incident highlights a larger issue. Student safety cannot be treated as an afterthought. Schools are responsible not only for academic development but also for the physical and emotional well-being of every child on campus.
One of the biggest is the lack of emergency producers in many schools. When a child complains about dizziness, illness, breathing difficulty, or severe discomfort, teachers should have proper guidelines on how to respond to immediate medical emergencies, parental notification, and proper documentation should become standard practice rather than optional measures.
Heatwaves have become increasingly common across India. Especially children get affected by heatwaves, which leads to dehydration, illness, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Schools must adapt to this changing environment to ensure proper ventilation, water facilities, regular health checkups and modifications to outdoor activities during extreme weather conditions.
Teacher training is equally important. Teachers are often the first adults to notice when a child is unwell. Basic first-aid training and emergency response education should be mandatory for all school staff. A teacher should be able to identify warning signs and take appropriate action without delay.
Infrastructure also plays an important role in student safety. Staircases, classrooms, corridor should be inspected regularly. Functional fans, clean drinking water, a medical kit and emergency contacts should be considered essential components of every educational institution.
Proper communication should be they’re between teachers and parents. In today’s digital world, there should be a mobile application for schools to update parents about their health, can sent sms to parents when students start feeling unwell. They should not wait until school ends. Their action should be taken immediately in that case.
Accountability, if any critical factor occurs, there should be transparency between the school and parents. Parents deserve clear answers, and schools must be willing to review and improve their policies. Accountability is not about blaming individuals alone; it is about ensuring that similar incidents do not happen again.
Also, parents play an important role in their children's safety. They should inform the school if a student is suffering from any disease or any medical allergy. Strong cooperation between schools and families can help create a safer environment where children's needs are identified and addressed quickly.
Every school has a proper medical room and well-trained staff in the medical room. Many emergencies can be handled effectively if there is proper medical assistance is they’re in campus. In many schools, however, medical facilities are either inadequate or completely absent. Establishing proper medical rooms can help prevent minor health issues from becoming serious emergencies.
Many countries have strict school safety guidelines that require regular emergency drills, first-aid training, and health monitoring systems. Schools conduct evacuation drills, maintain emergency response teams, and ensure that staff members are prepared to handle medical situations. Indian schools can learn from such practices and adapt them according to local needs. Investing in safety measures today can help prevent tragedies in the future.
Student safety should not depend on luck. It should be built into every aspect of school operations. From teacher training and emergency protocols to infrastructure maintenance and health monitoring, every measure contributes to creating a safer learning environment.
The death of a child is a tragedy that no family should ever experience. While schools cannot prevent every emergency, they can significantly reduce risks through awareness and timely action. The lesson from such incidents is clear: education and safety must go hand in hand. A classroom should be a place where children learn, grow, and dream about their future—not a place where preventable negligence puts their lives at risk.
As India continues to strengthen its education system, rewriting student safety protocols is no longer a choice. It is a responsibility owed to every child who walks through a school gate each morning.
Reference:
- Class III student dies after illness at Kolkata school; family alleges negligence by authorities
- Student Discipline Safety Protocols
- Top 10 Safety Rules at School Every Child Should Follow