‘School picnics are fine, but don’t neglect safety’

The recent accident in Chorwad in Junagadh claiming lives of seven teachers who were on a picnic trip has parents worried about their children’s safety.

They are now demanding that schools take adequate measures to ensure safety of children on such trips. “Every year, some seven or eight such incidents, where students and teachers on a school trip encounter accident, are reported in the state. Most of these accidents occur in far-off places. In some cases lives are also lost,” said an expert.  

Talking about the lack of concern on part of schools to ensure safety measures, father of a schoolgoing child said, “It has become fashionable for schools to organise recreation trips, but when it comes to taking safety measure, they appear nonchalant. If schools organise trips every year, they should undertake training programmes and technical measures to ensure that in case of an accident or other emergency situation, they are sufficiently equipped.”

Insisting on arranging for children’s safety during school trips, he said, “It is important for schools to incorporate regular safety drills and disaster management workshops in its curriculum. Participation in such training programme must also be made compulsory because it can prove helpful in the times of crisis.”    

Rahul Maheshwari, another parent said, “Schools are responsible for the safety of the students but many institutions are found lacking in this respect. Parents, schools and the government must join hands to ensure that.”

“There should, however, be a joint effort between the schools, the parents and the government. The government should be strict in issuing licenses and cancel it as soon as a school fails to meet it,” he said.

Radhika Iyer, principal of Udgam School, however insisted that schools are careful and taking all possible safety measures. About her own school, she said, “Every year, we take all the students, right from the KG to Class IX, for at least one daylong trip to different spots. We take extra care when students are taken to spots near water bodies and waterfalls. We give them a list of do’s and don’ts during the trips. Besides, first-aid kits are always taken along.”

Ruling out possibility of accidents during school picnics in Ahmedabad, trustee of A-one School Viral Shah said, “Nowadays schools stick to one-day picnics for safety reasons and there are no spots with water bodies that could be covered in such a short period, so the chances of mishaps are low for schools in Ahmedabad.” He, however, said, “The schools should treat safety as an important aspect and study the risk factors and safety measures of whichever spot they are taking the children to.”