Drowning Incidents: Get permission before planning outings, Govt to Schools

Srinagar: Amid the drowning incidents at picnic spots, the School Education department (SED) on Tuesday directed all the school heads in north and central districts to get proper permission before organizing any outing and ensure that no student below 18 years of age is forced to go for picnic.
The Directorate of School Education (Central and North) has issued an advisory in this regard to the Chief Education Officers of Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal (Central) and Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora (North) districts.
The Joint Director (Central &North) School Education, in the order said that the recent episodes of drowning and deaths of children in different rivers, nallahs and streams in picnic spots of Kashmir have given sleepless nights to parents, children and teachers who have approached the department for intervention in the matter.
“In order to handle this significant and sensitive issue pertaining to student community, parents, there is an immediate need of attention, consideration and disposal, redressal of these grievances on top priority as it involves the safety, security and well being of tender boys and girls studying in government as well as private schools of various districts of Kashmir division, the order reads.
It further reads that a new trend has begun, which is Summer Camps. ‘’There are many reports where students have drowned, or got hurt, or indulge in eve teasing, molestation, theft and other crimes during these camps. The matter needs to be looked upon seriously and a proper modus operandi should be adopted on these Summer Camps up to 8th or 10th class at least; besides, other matters of overcharging the parents should be looked in to.”
“In this behalf, all the Chief Education Officers, Zonal Education Officers concerned are requested to be extra vigilant and walk an extra mile to check the violations and nab the guilty involved in such illegal practices and sensitise the Head of the Institutions, Headmasters of private as well as government schools to maintain high standards of professionalism in their respective schools and desist children without seeking proper permission from Chief Education Officer, Zonal Education Officer concerned and in no case children below 18 years of age be forced to go for picnic or get consent of the parents after putting undue influence on such innocent children,” it further reads.
The Heads of the institutions, schools shall also designate 5 to 10 staff members as nodal officers, supervisors to safeguard the students and monitor their to and fro movement from school premises to picnic spots and back to their homes.
The school heads shall handle, monitor and regulate the entire program personally with higher standards of professionalism and responsibility, the order added.
“All Heads of the Institutions, school heads shall approach Chief Education Officers concerned who in turn will get it verified, examined and checked by Zonal Education Officers concerned in case the permission to conduct/organize an excursion, picnic, camps required and the clearance shall be granted only after proper permission is sought from the administration of the area and the names of places of picnic, excursion and out station camps to which any particular school/educational institutions proceeds shall be communicated in writing well in advance to Zonal Education Officers, Chief Education Officers and District Administration concerned, so that in case of any exigency, emergency the rescue teams can be sensitized/ activated in that area well in advance as a precautionary manner, to ensure safety, security and well being of students of tender age,” the order added