Panchkula, Nov. 5 -- In wake of the recent assault on a six-year-old girl by her schoolmate at a government school in Panchkula, the block education officer (BEO) has issued a 32-point safety directive to all government schools, making school heads and teachers accountable for students' safety during school hours. Under the guidelines, teachers must report to school at least 15 minutes before the scheduled opening time. After marking attendance, they must proceed to their classrooms instead of sitting in the staffroom. Class teachers must accompany students to the morning assembly as well as recess. If a class teacher is absent, the school head must arrange an alternative teacher to ensure that no class remains unattended. Separate seating arrangements must be made for Balvatika and Class 1 students while meals are served. Student attendance must be checked twice daily, particularly after recess. Teachers taking the last period must ensure that no student is left behind in the classroom and that rooms are locked only after being thoroughly checked. The teacher in charge of the final period must also ensure that Balvatika students are handed over to their parents or guardians. If a child remains on the school premises after closing time, the teacher and school head concerned must stay back until the child is safely handed over. Parents and autorickshaw drivers must be instructed to wait for children at the main gate and refrain from entering classrooms. Schools operating in double shifts must maintain separate entry and exit points to prevent congestion and ensure students' safe movement. To prevent accidents and injuries, school authorities have been directed to remove bricks, stones, flower pots, blades, scissors, rods, pipes, wooden sticks, broken benches etc. The guidelines stress the need to monitor changes in students' behaviour. School authorities and teaching staff will be held responsible for any lapse in implementing the directions, the directive warned....