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Is my child's school building safe?

Honestly, a visit cannot tell you that. Here is what you can check and ask: a short checklist for your next school visit, and a polite one-page letter that asks the school the right questions.

112All emergencies 101Fire brigade

After the school roof collapse in Peshawar, Pakistan, in October 2026, and the Jhalawar school roof collapse in Rajasthan in July 2025, the question comes up for every parent: how do I know my child's school building is safe?

Honestly, you cannot know that from a visit. A building's strength lies inside its walls, slabs and papers. What you can do is notice a few things that any parent can see, and ask the school the right questions in writing. This tool helps you do both.

Before you start

  • Follow the school's visitor rules, and do not go up to a roof or into a locked area.
  • Do not photograph other people's children. If you take a photo of a crack or a damp patch, keep children out of the frame, and ask the school's permission first.
  • Answer only what you saw yourself. Leave the rest as Not sure.

The checklist

Answer only what you saw yourself. Yes is the reassuring answer. Leave the rest as Not sure. Your answers stay in this page and are not sent to us or saved. We count visits with Google Analytics, and the page translator is Google's.

From the gate: you can see this from outside the building, or at the gate. Needs a visit: you need to be inside on a visit. Ask the school: only the school can tell you, so ask politely or use the letter below.

The building

Walls, ceilings, roof and terrace. Look up and look around.

1. I saw no visible cracks in classroom walls, ceilings or beams, especially long or wide ones that look new. Priority Needs a visit
Why we ask

Hairline cracks in plaster are common and often harmless. Note any crack that is wide, long, runs across a ceiling or beam, or has grown since your last visit.

2. Ceilings and walls were dry, with no damp patches, dripping, peeling plaster or seepage marks. (Look again after rain.) Priority Needs a visit
Why we ask

Water finding its way into a roof or wall is one of the first things worth reporting, so the monsoon is a good time to look.

3. I did not see rusted steel bars showing through concrete, or pieces of plaster or concrete lying on the floor. Priority Needs a visit
Why we ask

Steel bars that show through the concrete and have turned rusty, or bits of plaster on the floor under a ceiling, are worth a question.

4. Ceilings and floors looked level, with no sagging or bulging. Priority Needs a visit
Why we ask

Look along a ceiling from one end of the room. A dip or a bulge that you can see by eye is worth reporting.

5. To my knowledge, no new floor, room, water tank or heavy material is being added above the classrooms while school is running, and the terrace is not used to store heavy things. Priority From the gate
Why we ask

The NDMA policy says an existing school should not be extended upward without a fitness certificate for the building from a certified civil or structural engineer.

6. Terraces, balconies and open stairwells have a firm railing or parapet, and children go there only with a teacher. Needs a visit
Why we ask

The National Building Code asks for a parapet or handrail of about 1.0 to 1.2 m on roof terraces and balconies. You do not need a tape. Does it look firm and high enough?

Ways out

How children would leave in a hurry.

7. From the classroom floor I could see more than one way down. Needs a visit
Why we ask

Look for a second staircase, ramp or outside stair as well as the main one. If you can see only one, ask the school how children from the top floor would leave if it could not be used.

8. Bigger classrooms have two doors. Needs a visit
Why we ask

The NDMA policy says each classroom should have two doors for easy evacuation. The National Building Code asks for at least two doorways in a room meant for more than 45 people.

9. Stairs, corridors and gates on the way out were clear of benches, bags, cartons and cycles. From the gate
Why we ask

Exit routes should be kept free of hurdles so that evacuation is smooth.

10. The stairs looked sturdy, with a good handrail. Needs a visit
Why we ask

You do not need to measure the stairs. If they look narrow for the number of children, just ask.

11. No exit door or gate was locked or chained while children were inside. Priority From the gate
Why we ask

Classroom doors that lead outside may have the usual lock, but nothing should stop a child from getting out.

Fire and electrical

What a parent can see without any technical knowledge.

12. Fire extinguishers are easy to see and not blocked, and they carry a tag with a recent date. Needs a visit
Why we ask

Look for the red cylinder in each block and the date on its tag. Ask who checks it and when.

13. A fire alarm or a loud bell is fitted on each floor. Needs a visit
Why we ask

Ask how the alarm is raised and who may raise it. You are asking whether there is a way to warn everyone, not testing the bell.

14. Wiring, switchboards and meter boxes looked tidy, with no loose or hanging wires, open boards or scorch marks. Needs a visit
Why we ask

Look in corridors, the lab, the canteen and the staff room. Loose wires and open boards are easy to see.

Drills and people

Practice and who is in charge.

15. The school has held a fire or evacuation drill in the last six months, and a teacher could tell me when. Ask the school
Why we ask

The NDMA policy suggests mock drills preferably once in every six months. The Education Ministry's 2021 guidelines say at least once a year. Ask for the date of the last one. How to Run an Effective Fire Drill at Work, School and Home

16. An exit plan is displayed on each floor or in the classrooms, and there is a marked assembly point outside the building. Needs a visit
Why we ask

The plan should show the way out. Children should know where to gather outside, away from the building and from traffic. How to Make an Emergency Evacuation Plan That Actually Works

17. A first-aid box and emergency numbers (112, 101, 108) are displayed. Needs a visit
Why we ask

Look in the office, the staff room and the corridors. Evacuation for People with Disabilities – Guidelines

18. A staff member could tell me who makes the call and who leads each class out. Ask the school
Why we ask

You are asking whether there is a plan, not testing anyone. Even a simple, clear answer is a good sign.

Classrooms
19. Classrooms are not packed so tightly that children could not reach the door quickly without climbing over benches. Needs a visit
Why we ask

We give no head-count rule here, because we have not verified one that applies to every school. Use your own eyes. Could a class leave in an orderly line?

Papers

Ask politely. Certificates are shown on request or displayed, and names differ from state to state.

20. The school can show its building-safety (structural stability) certificate and its building permission or occupancy certificate, or tell me whom to ask. Ask the school
Why we ask

The Supreme Court's 2009 order on school safety and the NDMA policy speak of safety certificates issued after proper inspection. The name of the paper differs by state.

21. The school can show its fire NOC or fire-safety certificate, or can explain why one is not required for its building. Ask the school
Why we ask

Whether a fire NOC is needed depends on your state and the height and size of the building. Some small school buildings do not need one. The question is still worth asking. Did You Know? Schools Under 15 Metres May Not Need a Fire NOC

22. The school can tell me the date of its last building safety audit (structure, fire and electrical) and whether the repairs advised were done. Ask the school
Why we ask

The NDMA policy expects schools to carry out safety audits. Ask for the date, who did it, and what was advised.

School transport (optional)

Answer a few more questions to see what to do next.

If plaster is falling, a ceiling is sagging or water is coming through right now, ask staff to move children out at once and call 112.

Letter to the school

A polite one-page letter that asks the school for its safety papers and drill dates. Fill in the boxes to see your own copy, or print the blank sheet and write by hand.

To,
The Principal
[School name]
[Address, city]

Date: [date]

Subject: Request for information on building safety and emergency preparedness

Respected Sir or Madam,

I am the parent of [child's name], studying in Class [class] Section [section] of your school. Like every parent, I want to be sure that my child is in a safe place, and I would be grateful for your help in understanding what is in place.

I understand that the NDMA School Safety Policy (2016) and the Supreme Court's 2009 order on school safety expect schools to have their buildings checked, to hold regular drills and to keep the right safety papers. Could you kindly share these, or let me see them on a day that suits you?

1. The building's structural-safety (stability) certificate, with the date it was issued and the name of the engineer or authority who issued it, and the building permission or occupancy certificate.
2. The fire NOC or fire-safety certificate, with its validity date, or a short note on why one is not required for the building.
3. The date of the last fire or evacuation drill, and the date planned for the next one.
4. The date of the last building safety audit (structure, fire and electrical), who carried it out, and whether the repairs advised have been completed.
5. The name of the teacher or staff member who is the school's contact for safety matters.

I would be glad to attend a drill, or to help the school in any way the management finds useful. A reply by [date] would be much appreciated.

Thank you for your time and for caring for our children.

Yours sincerely,
[Parent's name]
Parent of [child's name], Class [class] Section [section]
[Phone number]

Keep a copy. Ask the school office to stamp and sign your copy as received.

Printable sheets

Preview of the one-page parents checklist, with Yes, No and Not sure boxes for each question
Parents' checklistOne A4 page, 22 questions with tick boxes. Print the checklist (PDF, 1.0 MB) (opens in a new tab)
Preview of the one-page letter to the school, with fill-in lines and a box for the school to mark as received
Letter to the schoolOne A4 page with fill-in lines and a Received box. Print the letter (PDF, 817 KB) (opens in a new tab)
Who to approach nextFrom the principal up to the state education department
  1. Principal or head of school. In person first, then the letter. Keep a stamped copy.
  2. School Management Committee (government schools) or Parent Teacher Association (private schools). Ask for the point to be placed on the next meeting's agenda.
  3. For a private or board-affiliated school: the school's management or trust, and then the board it is affiliated to (CBSE, ICSE or a state board). Write to the management first. Then write to the board's affiliation office, quoting the school's affiliation number. It is on the school's certificate and usually on its website.
  4. Block Education Officer (BEO). Write with a copy of your letter to the school and any reply.
  5. District Education Officer (DEO). If the BEO's office does not act.
  6. District Collector or District Magistrate, and the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). The NDMA policy gives the DDMA a role in seeing that schools meet the National Building Code.
  7. The local municipal or council building department and the fire station for your area. For any school, government or private, you can write to ask whether the building has a fire NOC and a structural safety certificate on record. We have not listed a portal for this, because it differs by city.
  8. State or Union Territory School Education Department. Where the problem continues.

This ladder follows the Education Ministry's 2021 Guidelines on School Safety and Security (sections 4.4 to 4.6). Under section 32 of the RTE Act, any person can also make a written complaint to the local authority. Your state may have its own online complaint channel. We have not verified any, so ask the District Education Office or look on your state education department's website.

How we know

The questions follow the NDMA School Safety Policy 2016, the Supreme Court's 2009 order on school safety, the National Building Code 2016 and the Education Ministry's 2021 school safety guidelines. Last checked 20 October 2026.

Read the guides behind this tool

Common questions

Is this a structural audit of the school?

No. Only a qualified civil or structural engineer can assess a building's strength. The NDMA policy says structural assessment is to be done by a civil engineer or licensed building surveyor, while non-structural checks can be done by teachers and students. This checklist helps a parent notice and ask. It does not give a verdict, and it never says that a building is safe or unsafe.

What can a parent actually see on a school visit?

Cracks, damp patches and peeling plaster, sagging ceilings, rusted steel showing through concrete, building work going on above classrooms, how many ways down there are, whether stairs and gates are clear and unlocked, the extinguishers and wiring, and whether drill dates and exit plans are on display. That is what the twenty-two questions cover.

Will the school be upset if I send the letter?

Most schools welcome a polite, specific request. The letter asks for information, it does not accuse. Offering to attend a drill or to help usually sets a friendly tone. It also works well when sent by a group of parents through the PTA.

Does every school need a fire NOC?

It depends on your state and on the height and size of the building. Some small school buildings do not need one. That does not remove the school's duty to follow the national school-safety guidelines. See our post on schools under 15 metres. The letter asks and never claims.

What if the school does not reply?

Write again after about two weeks and raise it at the PTA or School Management Committee. Then move up the ladder: Block Education Officer, District Education Officer, District Collector, and the state or Union Territory education department. Keep copies of everything.

How often should I repeat the checklist?

Once after each monsoon, whenever building work starts, and at the start of each school year. The NDMA policy suggests drills preferably every six months, and the Education Ministry's guidelines suggest a school safety walk every quarter.

More free safety tools

These tools are for awareness. They do not replace a fire audit, an electrician's visit, medical advice or a call to the emergency services. In an emergency, call 112.

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