District-level plans will be prepared to expedite inspections and issue no-objection certificates (NOCs) to schools on the fitness of their buildings before schools reopen in Kerala next month.

Directions have been given through District Collectors for easing the process of issuing NOCs by the departments concerned to schools in a district.

There may be 800 to 1,000 schools under the General Education department in a district and departments such as Fire and Rescue Services and Forest will have to examine the schools before issuing NOCs, officials said.

District Collectors are convening meetings of heads of departments in the districts in this connection. Nodal officers will be appointed at the district level to make safety precautions and the inspections more effective. They will coordinate with the General Education, Health, Fire and Rescue Services, Public Works, Motor Vehicles, and Local Self-government departments in this regard.

Efforts are on to complete the inspections in all schools ahead of the rains, officials said. Schools have to apply to the departments for getting the NOCs. School head teachers too have to attest to school safety in order to get fitness certificate for school buildings from the Local Self-government departments.

Officials said though some departments lacked staff to inspect such a large number of schools, they had promised that schools would be covered.

A meeting of education officers too has been chaired by the Additional Director of General Education.

Instructions have been issued to expedite maintenance of old structures. School buildings that are in disuse should be completely closed off to children. Wells and drinking water tanks should be chlorinated. Weeds and undergrowth should be cleared and it should be ensured that they are free of reptiles. Electrical wiring should be inspected. Trees and branches should be removed if they pose threat to safety. Fitness of school buses should be ensured.