Parents check safety measures at Ryan School ahead of reopening

The school also appointed 45 new women attendants for buses and they would be deployed on the routes from Monday.

Around 700 parents of Ryan International School’s Bhondsi branch visited the school premises on Saturday for a parent-teacher meeting and also checked safety and security measures taken by the school management, ahead of its reopening on Monday.

Three families also withdrew their children from the school.(Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

Three families also withdrew their children from the school as they were apprehensive about sending their wards alleging that the atmosphere would not let them come out of the trauma of the murder of an eight-year-old boy. A class 2 student was murdered on September 8 morning in a school toilet.

The school also appointed 45 new women attendants for buses and they would be deployed on the routes from Monday.

Devesh Thakur, a father of two children who are studying in school, said, “I had shifted my both children to the Bhondsi branch from Sector 56 but after the incident, my children and wife are scared to enter the school premises. I can’t risk the life of my children.”

Some parents showed a keen interest in checking the installation of CCTV cameras and the areas covered by it. They were still reluctant to send their wards but after the discussion with Gurgaon deputy commissioner, Vinay Pratap Singh, they have decided to send their children to the school from Monday.

The school teachers assured parents and showed them the security measures, including the installation of CCTV cameras, cables and the construction of boundary wall.

Jyoti Mongia, a resident of Bhondsi and a mother of class 11 student, said, “I am satisfied (with the measures) and I think all major security concerns of parents have been addressed. The school has undertaken a lot of work and have left no stone unturned. With the district administration taking control, our children are safe.”

Arvind Raghav, a third party field officer who has been hired on a contract basis, said, “We have hired experienced and trained women attendants for the school buses and for housekeeping. They will be deployed outside each toilet in the school and are trained to handle students. We have not hired any fresher.”

“I have worked in an engineering college for more than six years. I had applied for the post of attendant last week. I was selected and on Saturday, given specification and schedule for the job,” said Manju Singh.

The school has also introduced visitor passes for parents and separate badges for non-permanent daily staff. The staff was also given training ahead of the reopening.

Also, the bus drivers attended a refresher course on Saturday and officials said it would be repeated every six months.

When the school had reopened on September 18, there was a low student turnout — around four to five in each class. Parents had alleged that there has been no improvement in the safety and security system of the school.