Delhi Halts Private School Recognition Amid Safety Concerns After Tragic Goa Fire

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has temporarily halted the recognition process for private schools and initiated an urgent inquiry to verify compliance with essential safety norms in recently recognised institutions.

This decision comes after a tragic fire in Goa that resulted in over 25 fatalities, prompting renewed scrutiny of unsafe buildings nationwide.

In a letter, MCD Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh noted a communication from Education Committee Chairman Yogesh Verma, expressing “serious concern” over how recognitions were being granted by the education department, reported PTI.

Several councillors also raised issues regarding the structural integrity of school buildings and the associated risks to children.

Addressing these concerns, the additional

commissioner has instructed Verma to form a councillor committee to conduct physical inspections of all recently recognised schools, as stated in the letter.

The committee is tasked with examining fire safety compliance and submitting its report within a week.

“Considering the safety of children, recognition is to be put on hold until the report is submitted,” the order stated.

The director (education) has also been directed to provide all relevant documents to support the inquiry.

Meanwhile, following a recent student suicide case, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood has ordered a comprehensive review of mental-health practices across all schools in the national capital. A committee has also been formed to investigate whether institutions are following the prescribed mental-health guidelines. Sood stated that the government would provide full support to any school needing assistance in strengthening its mental-health framework.

Delhi’s schools are set to undergo extensive upgrades aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Sood announced that campuses across the MCD and the Delhi government will be modernised using CSR funds, with planned improvements in classroom design, furniture, and the introduction of AI-based teaching tools.