life will return to Sapphire International School as the cradle will resume classes from Monday after being suspended for ten days following the shocking death of its Standard VII student Vinay Mahto.
In response to the allegations of lacunae in its security arrangements which led to the fateful incident, the school administration has claimed to make all the necessary modifications as per recommendations from the district administration.
The school has entered into agreement with leading security service agency ‘Group 4’ for working out on the loopholes in safety meant for its students. More security guards and better close circuit television (CCTV) cameras will be added to the security arrangements at the premium cradle, gaps in which were widely criticised for letting the murder happen.
On the instructions from the investigating agencies looking into the Vinay murder case, around 70 night vision enabled CCTV cameras have been installed at all the critical points around the school campus. A control room will also be set up where feed from these cameras will be recorded and monitored round the clock by a guard. Entirety of the campus will be watched by a group of 14 security guards in two shifts under the supervision of two supervisors.
On the other, parents are also been contacted by the school administration, convincing them to send their wards to the school. And the guardians seem to have no reservations about it either.
“We have to send our children to school. In my opinion, the school should not be disturbed at all, especially not now when the examinations are close at hand. As far the effectiveness of the security arrangements is concerned, it will be apt to comment on them only after the school reopens,” said mother of a Sapphire student.
“I stand with the parents of the unfortunate child, but this cannot be allowed to shadow the future of 500 children studying in the school. Defaming an institution to this extent over an incident cannot be justified. This has also demoralised the students to a great deal. Not forgetting the gaps before, the security changes made by the school seem satisfactory to me,” stated Neetu Mohanty, whose son has been with Sapphire International School for the past five years.
The reformed security arrangements can also be a way for the school administration to steer clear of action planned by Ranchi district administration. As per the findings of a probe team led by District Superintendent of Education Jayant Kumar Mishra, the school administration has been named guilty of negligence on the night Vinay was murdered.
“We will be issuing a show-cause notice to the school administration by Monday, demanding answers to why we should not initiate procedure to annul the NoC awarded to them. If the changes in security measures they claim to have made is effective and provides a fear-free environment to the students, then it can serve as a legitimate answer,” stated Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar.