PANAJI: In a move to strengthen child safety in school transportation, the Goa Directorate of Education has made police verification compulsory for all drivers and helpers engaged in transporting schoolchildren, including those operating school buses, vans, and Balrath vehicles.
The directive follows guidelines issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and comes in the aftermath of a recent incident in which a school van driver was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl.
In a circular issued today, Director of Education Shailesh Zingde stated that no driver or helper will be permitted to operate any vehicle used for student transport without a valid and satisfactory police verification certificate. The circular mandates that police verification must be conducted at the time of appointment and renewed periodically, including in cases of replacement or fresh recruitment.
Schools have also been instructed to maintain proper records of all police verification documents, which must be made available for inspection whenever required.
The Directorate has placed the onus of compliance on heads of institutions and school managements, making it clear that strict adherence to the directive is mandatory. Any lapse or non-compliance will be viewed seriously, the circular warned.
