‘Encourage participation of parents in school picnics’
If you are worried about the safety of your kids participating in school picnics, you can accompany them to the spot in future, courtesy: the government directive to school management to encourage participation of parents in the picnics.
In a new circular issued by the school education department, the school management has been asked to encourage participation of a ‘few’ parents in the picnic.
The directive is likely to be issued to both the directorates of school education and school management to ensure safety of the students.
Officials in the department said the circular regarding the development was issued on the directions of the Education Minister Naeem Akhtar.
Also, the government has decided not to coerce the students to attend the school picnic. “The picnic/excursion shall be a voluntary exercise and only those students who are willing to do so of their own will shall participate,” the circular reads.
The school management has been directed to issue instructions to the students a day before the picnic is to be held, to reduce the pressure of teachers.
In wake of the inclement weather and reports of cloud bursts and flood like situations in valley, the school management has been asked be choosy about the picnic spot.
“In view of the recent extreme weather events taking place on frequent basis, area selected for picnic should not prone to such extreme weather events like landslide cloud bursts,” reads the government circular.
The school authorities have been directed to schedule their picnics according to the weather advisories issued by the MeT department.
“Before embarking on the picnic the schools are expected to keep an eye out for weather advisories and due consideration shall be given if and when such an advisory is issued,” the order reads, adding that schools must ensure the availability of fully equipped first aid kit as well.
The order emphasizes for the safety of girl students participating in the picnic, saying that the female students should be accompanied by the female staff of their respective schools.
“To ensure safety of girls’ students taking part lady teachers must accompany the team and due care must be taken to prevent the harassment of students especially girl students by hooligans and eve teasers.”
The government has asked the schools to put a cap on the number of students participating in picnic as per the availability of the school staff.
“The teacher pupil ratio must be adequate to ensure proper supervision of students at all times. Students should not be left unattended.”
In wake of the complaints rough driving by drivers and hiring uncomfortable buses by some schools the government has asserted that ‘only comfortable buses shall be chosen’.
“The buses carrying students must not run at high speed and avoid unnecessary overtaking vehicles must not be overloaded,” the circular reads, adding the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) of the concerned district shall be informed in advance.
