Employees of all CBSE affiliated and aided schools to undergo psychometric evaluation

 

14-Sept-17
The CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) yesterday asked 19500 affiliated schools to put all their employees through a psychometric evaluation against the backdrop of the murder of a child in a Gurgaon school allegedly by its bus attendant.
If CBSE passes ahead with the move, the scale and sweep of the test will be unprecedented: around 10 lakh employees including teachers, spread over 26 countries will have to be evaluated.
Psychometric tests are used to measure an individual's mental capabilities and behavioural style. The tests are designed to measure a candidate's suitability for a rule based on the required personality characteristics and aptitude. The evaluation is done by a professional psychologist.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which functions under the administrative control of the union ministry of human resources and development (MHRD), has issued a circular asking for a security and safety audit of the premises and personal by police within 2 months.
"They must get the police verification and psychometric evaluation done for all the staff employed. Such verification and evaluation for non teaching staff such as bus drivers, attendants, peon and other supporting staff may be done very carefully and in a detailed manner, "said the circular issued by deputy secretary Jaiprakash Chaturvedi.
"It is reiterated that all schools affiliated with the CBSE are directed to strictly adhere to all the guidelines issued by the MHRD and the board from time to time. Any violation / lapses with regard to the safety and well-being of children on campus would invite appropriate action, including the disaffiliation of the school ....,"the circular adds.
Schools affiliated to the CBSE are spread over 26 countries and employ around 10 lakh people. CBSE affiliated schools in India include around 1100 Kendriya Vidyalayas  (K.V), 600 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, 2700 schools run or aided by the state governments and 14900 private schools.
Though CBSE's move is being welcomed but from the expert sources it is understood that psychometric test will be quite a time-taking process. Evaluation of each person should take minimum half an hour to one hour. The process would involve use of cards and expressions followed by a few questions to understand a person's cognitive ability and personality trait. If the expert feels that the person is faking the answer, the person may be subjected to a detailed evaluation.
Earlier CBSE through another circular had asked the schools to install CCTV cameras in all vulnerable areas on the school premises and also ensure that that are functional round the clock. The schools have to ensure that the supporting staffs are employed only from authorised agencies and records are maintained.
Each school is required to constitute a parent-teacher-students committee to address the safety needs and to take regular feedback from parents. Moreover, the access to school building by outsiders must be controlled, monitored and staff should be provided training to address their responsibilities to protect children from any form of abuse, the circular said.
Some words of caution automatically arises: In the current backdrop of some heinous incidents in these schools that have happened in the country parents need to verify security related measures and be extremely careful before putting their dear ones, especially in private schools.   

(Source: The Telegraph, edited)
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