Kerala

Guidelines in place

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to issue guidelines with respect to students’ excursions. In this connection, it is pertinent to note that the Government of Kerala has already issued an order — GO (MS)51/07 in gazette dated 2-3-2007 — wherein strict instructions have been given to institutes who take groups of students on excursions. As pointed out by the apex court recently, the following guidelines have to be adopted in addition to the directions contained in the gazette. Firstly, students should not be taken to risky areas after 7 p.m. Secondly, if the students are taken to risky areas like swimming pools, one lifeguard has to be arranged for every group of 15 students. Lastly, no tour should be conducted during rainy reason.

P. Subbayyan

Palakkad

It is imperative to ensure the safety of the students while enjoying a trip. The school authorities should be more answerable and accountable. Before planning such a trip, the teachers should call a meeting of parents, students and others concerned and form a squad to ensure that a policy of “safety first” is followed. This squad must scrupulously enforce all decisions taken in the meeting to prevent untoward incidents. Factors like condition of vehicles used for the trip must not be ignored. Students must be urged to behave well so that the study tour would become an eventful experience and instil good human behaviour.

Kunhikannan

Koyilandy

Why don’t we remember the Thattekad boat tragedy? The courts, time and again, have warned tourists and students on study tour, not to go to accident-prone areas, if sufficient precautionary measures are not taken by the organisers. Still, accidents continue to happen as the directions are observed only for a short period. Shortly after an accident, the public and media forget everything and all the precautions are given the go-by. A permanent solution is required to ensure safety during excursions, tours and picnic trips.

Palakkadan S. Narayan

Petta

Tours are part of students’ learning process. At the same time, the teachers and the organisers of the tours have some duty assigned to them, to keep the students safe. The Supreme Court’s direction in this regard is welcome. The government has a duty to accept responsibility for safety during these trips. Now, the ball is in the court of our State government. It has to issue new guidelines for education trips.

S. N. Thiruvazhiode

Ernakulam

The safety aspects of study tours are already being considered by heads of institutions concerned and members of the staff accompanying the students.

Of course, there are instances when a combination of youthful exuberance, tendency for mischief and lack of discipline or oversight leads to mishaps or tragedies, but these are not possibly avoided by ‘issuing guidelines’ as much as by exercising innate qualities like sobriety and cautious conduct, which every normal human being is capable of. Of what use are guidelines when ‘spur-of-the-moment’ actions cause disaster?

Devraj Sambasivan

Alappuzha

Students on excursion are the charge of the teachers who lead them. If anything untoward happens, they are squarely responsible for that. No amount of excuses can absolve them of this. The buck passes to the headmaster and rests with the school management.

While planning an excursion, every possible precaution must be taken taken. Fool-proof arrangements for transportation, food and accommodation should be made. The number of students under each teacher should be limited to manageable levels, and they should be asked to report to their respective teachers at regular intervals. Children should be given enough latitude to have fun, frolic and freedom. Parents should be encouraged to accompany small children, say, up to the fifth class.

P.V. Divakaran

Avittathur

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