53. Powers of Director-General and inspectors on inspecting schools

For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act and any regulations made thereunder it shall be lawful for the Director‑General or any officer empowered under section 5(1) or any inspector of schools to enter any school premises and to examine all documents found on those premises and to remove them for further examination.

If the school premises or any building therein is closed and if none of the registered managers nor any of the registered teachers or unregistered teachers of the school can be found to open those premises or building then the Director‑General or any officer empowered under section 5(1) or any inspector of schools may enter therein using force if necessary.

In the case of instruction given by means of correspondence delivered by hand or through the postal services the Director‑General may require to be submitted to him a copy of all documents used, or intended to be used, for the purpose of instruction.

The Director-General at any time and any officer empowered under section 5(1) while lawfully carrying out an inspection of a registered school may require any registered manager of, or registered teacher or unregistered teacher authorised or permitted to teach in, any registered school or any pupil of the school or any person found within the school to produce for his inspection any document in his possession or under his control which relates to the management or teaching or pupil activities of the school and to furnish the Director‑General or that officer with such information relating to the management or teaching or pupil activities of the school as the Director‑General or that officer may demand and which it is within the power of the person to furnish and in the case of a teacher to produce for inspection his certificate of registration or his authority or permit to teach under this Act.