With the new academic year two weeks away, the State government has initiated a last-minute effort to tighten safety standards in schools and transport through a coordinated inspection drive across departments.

The General Education department has issued fresh orders assigning joint responsibility to the Local Self-Governments department (LSGD) and the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) to ensure compliance in both school infrastructure and vehicle conditions. As per the order dated May 13, fitness certificates for schools will now be issued by the assistant engineer of the LSGD, but only after securing no-objection certificates from five departments , namely the Electrical Inspectorate, Fire and Rescue Services, Health department, Forest and Wildlife department and the MVD.

The order also mandates joint inspections by the LSGD assistant engineer and the health wing of local bodies to verify school buildings and premises against a detailed checklist. Final fitness certification will be issued by the local body, based on adherence to these safety parameters.

Major shift

The move marks a major shift from the earlier system, where schools had to independently secure clearances from multiple departments. Following a public interest litigation filed by activist Kulathur Jaisingh over student safety, the Kerala High Court had directed the government to streamline the process and establish a coordinated certification mechanism. Subsequent meetings chaired by the Chief Secretary and attended by District Collectors finalised the decision to vest primary responsibility with LSGD engineers.

Meanwhile, the MVD has been tasked with completing school vehicle inspections and issuing fitness certificates by May 31. Officials at the Kottayam Regional Transport Office (RTO) said preparations were under way to roll out the inspection schedule. “We are in consultation with sub-RTOs to finalise the plan. Multiple centres will be set up within each jurisdiction for conducting the fitness tests,” an official said.

New requirement

This year, the MVD has added a new safety requirement, blind spot mirrors on school buses, aimed at reducing accidents caused by limited visibility around heavy vehicles.

Meanwhile, school authorities have taken steps to get their fleets ready for certification. With repair and maintenance costs climbing due to rising spare part prices and labour charges, many institutions are bracing for a heavier financial burden this year.

Depending on the condition of the vehicle, expenses vary widely. Installing CCTV systems costs between ₹15,000 and ₹20,000, while a full repainting of large buses can go up to ₹25,000. On an average, schools estimate that ₹40,000 to ₹50,000 per vehicle is needed to fix mechanical issues and meet fitness standards ahead of the deadline.