In a bold step to enhance the safety and security of female students, the Higher Education Department (HED) Punjab has rolled out an action plan to establish female-only staffing at all female educational institutions across the province. This sweeping initiative, which applies to both public and private educational facilities, aims to create a safe and supportive environment tailored to the needs of female students.
As part of the new policy, male staff members previously stationed in female-designated areas have been reassigned. In tandem with staffing changes, all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities, must now install CCTV cameras in mixed-gender workspaces. These cameras are expected to remain active during operating hours to ensure a consistent level of monitoring. Additionally, senior female officers will perform hourly inspections to maintain adherence to these new safety measures.
Institutions such as female-only colleges, hostels, and vocational training centers will also see the replacement of male staff with female personnel. Furthermore, CCTV footage from these facilities will be stored for at least 30 days, particularly focusing on areas where students might be most vulnerable, like secluded corridors and dimly lit sections.
The action plan goes further to restrict male staff from roles within female-only institutions where their presence may be intrusive. Male cooks are now barred from working in female hostels, while the presence of male security guards in these spaces will be significantly limited. Instead, female security guards will be positioned in these roles, bolstering a sense of security for the residents.
To facilitate these security upgrades, the department has allocated funds for the rapid installation of CCTV systems. Official notifications outlining the new guidelines have been dispatched to all relevant institutions and hostels, mandating immediate compliance. Through these proactive measures, the Punjab Higher Education Department seeks to provide a safer, more supportive learning environment for female students throughout the province.