Rajasthan School Safety Certification Row: Principals Pressured to Certify Crumbling Buildings

Banswara- A growing controversy in Rajasthan’s education sector has put school principals and block education officers in a precarious position, as the state’s Education Department demands safety and usability certificates for dilapidated, crumbling school buildings, kitchens, classrooms, boundary walls, and sanitation facilities.

The directive has sparked outrage, with the Rajasthan Teachers’ Union (Siyaram) labeling it a “double-edged sword” that could either expose principals to legal liability in case of accidents or invite the wrath of senior officials for non-compliance.

The Rajasthan Teachers’ Union (Siyaram), led by its state administrative president, Siyaram Sharma, has submitted a memorandum to the state government, objecting to the requirement for principals to certify the safety of school buildings without technical expertise or qualifications. The union highlighted that many government schools, particularly in the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) areas, are in dire condition, with leaking roofs, crumbling structures, and unsafe facilities. Kitchens used for the Mid-Day Meal scheme are reportedly covered in soot, while toilets, boundary walls, and classrooms pose significant risks to students and staff, especially during the rainy season.

A senior education officer, speaking anonymously, revealed that the demand for safety certificates from principals is an attempt to shift responsibility from higher authorities. The officer alleged that during the construction of these buildings, technical officials such as Executive Engineers (EE) and Junior Engineers (JE) colluded with contractors to issue safety and usability certificates despite substandard work. Now, with buildings deteriorating within 10-15 years, the department is reportedly pressuring principals to certify these structures as safe, a move critics call a “conspiracy to cover up corruption” and a way to “save their own skin while trapping subordinates.”

The union has termed the demand for safety certificates from principals as an “illegal act.” At the time of construction, safety certifications are issued by technical officers and the Public Works Department (PWD) after thorough inspections. Forcing principals, who lack technical training or degrees, to issue such certificates for dilapidated buildings is seen as unjust. “It’s like punishing the poor for the king’s crimes,” said a union representative, emphasizing that principals are neither equipped nor authorized to assess structural safety.

The Education Department’s directive places principals in an impossible situation. Certifying unsafe buildings as usable risks their accountability in case of accidents, while refusing to comply could lead to disciplinary action from higher authorities. “It’s like being stuck between a well and a cliff,” one principal remarked, highlighting the dilemma faced by educators across the state.