CBSE releases safety advisory to protect students from dog bite risks

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a comprehensive safety advisory to all its affiliated schools to proactively prevent dog-bite incidents and ensure safer school environments for students and staff.

The move follows a recent Supreme Court directive emphasising the need for heightened child safety across educational institutions.

The safety circular issued by CBSE calls on schools to implement a range of preventive and mitigation strategies.

It comes in response to directions from the Supreme Court regarding the safety and well-being of children, especially considering rising concerns about stray dog presence around public and institutional spaces.

In addition, the advisory aligns with a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) released by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, detailing national practices for the prevention of dog-bite incidents and management of stray dogs within institutional premises.

KEY DIRECTIVES FOR SCHOOLS

Under the new CBSE guidelines, schools must take the following



measures to prevent dog-bite incidents and enhance campus safety:

1. Awareness and preparedness: Conduct regular sessions for students and staff on safe behaviour around animals, first-aid for bites, and prompt reporting.

2. Vulnerability assessment: Identify high-risk areas and immediately coordinate with local authorities to remove stray dogs from school premises.

3. Physical safety: Secure campuses with proper fencing, boundary walls, and locked gates.

4. Safety qversight: Appoint a Nodal Officer for cleanliness and stray-dog control, with contact details displayed at the school entrance.

5. Routine inspections: Carry out inspections at least once every three months to ensure no stray-dog habitats exist nearby.

6. Waste and sanitation: Maintain effective waste disposal and drainage systems in line with PM POSHAN guidelines to avoid attracting animals.

7. Holistic safety: Follow CBSE School Safety and Security Guidelines for overall student well-being.

8. Rabies prevention: Undertake rabies awareness and prevention activities as advised by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.