ITANAGAR, 30 Sep: The All Nyishi Students' Union (ANSU) urged the education department to strictly enforce the "Rules for Regulating the Opening/Recognition of Schools Managed by Private Sector (Aided or Unaided) in Arunachal Pradesh, 2026, along with all applicable child-safety, educational and statutory norms.
The students' body made the urge amid reports of repeated incidents of mysterious deaths of children in private boarding schools.
Expressing grave concern over such incidents, the union called for an immediate attention and appropriate intervention by the state government and the competent authorities.
"The safety, security, dignity, and well-being of children must remain the foremost priority of every educational institution, particularly in boarding and residential schools, where children remain under the care and supervision of the institution for extended periods," the ANSU stated in a representation to the education secretary on Wednesday.
The students' body urged the education department to immediately constitute a committee to carry out a comprehensive state-wide survey and inspect private schools, particularly private unaided and boarding/residential schools.
The committee should assess compliance with the 'Rules for Regulating the Opening/Recognition of Schools (aided or unaided) managed by private sector in Arunachal Pradesh, 2026, and other statutory requirements, such as school buildings, classrooms, hostels, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, fire-safety, medical facilities, and security arrangements.
The union also sought verification of child protection and emergency response systems, quality education, qualifications and eligibility records of teachers, hostel wardens, caregivers, student-teacher ratio and to ensure that every recognized school continues to meet the prescribed norms after recognition is granted.
The union demanded that appropriate actions be initiated against non-compliant schools under the applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including direction for rectification within a stipulated time-frame.
It also demanded that the department prepare a comprehensive state-wide compliance report based on the findings and that the Action Taken Report be made public.
The ANSU further stated that the proposed committee should be given a clear mandate and defined timeframe for completion of the survey, so that the exercise does not remain merely procedural but results in tangible improvements in the safety and quality of education provided to children.
"The state's responsibility should not end with granting recognition to an educational institution. Continuous monitoring, periodic inspection and strict compliance with prescribed norms are essential, particularly in boarding institutions where children are entrusted to the care and supervision of the school," union said.
The ANSU urged the education department to initiate the proposed exercise at the earliest to ensure that no child's safety, dignity, educational rights or well-being are compromised in the pursuit of providing education.
"Students' safety must remain the highest priority and there should be no compromise with the prescribed standards of education and child protection," it added.
