Is school education minister Rajendra Darda and secretary of his ministry JS Saharia working at cross purposes?
On Monday, the school education department, through a government resolution (GR), announced guidelines for the school bus policy. Two days later on Wednesday, amid confusion among parents and principals on the guidelines to be followed, Darda made the astounding claim that the policy never came to him for approval. Darda said he was not aware of the policy being announced. However, while speaking to dna on Wednesday night Saharia insisted that the policy and the guidelines had all the “necessary government approvals”. “I do not know what he (Darda) has said but the policy and guidelines have the necessary approvals from the government,” he emphasised. Darda was unavailable for comment on Saharia’s assertion.
The confusion within the department has added to the existing chaos among school principals and parents. The principals’ associations plan to move to the Bombay high court as the school bus policy puts the burden of children’s safety on principals. “We already have enough administrative work to deal with. Hence, this extra burden is going to affect our output,” said Prashant Redij, member of the Maharashtra State Secondary and Higher Secondary School Principals’ Association.
Parents too have raised objections to the policy guidelines which restrict them from dropping their children to school by private cars. “Why would we want to take the risk and expense of the school bus if we can drop them on our own,” said Chitra Mehta, a resident of Kalyan.
To provide a clear picture of the policy, the education department has suggested that schools can approach NGOs or organisations for workshops.
Guidelines through govt resolution
On Monday, the school education department, through a government resolution (GR), announced guidelines for the school bus policy. Two days later on Wednesday, amid confusion among parents and principals on the guidelines to be followed, Darda made the astounding claim that the policy was not put before him for approval.
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