Gujarat: Schools need District Education Officer’s nod for students’ trip

In the wake of two recent bus accidents in which 10 students were killed and several others injured, the state government has mandated schools to take permission from the District Education Officer (DEO) before planning any trip or a picnic. The state government on Friday framed rules to be followed by schools before any picnic or excursion. The new rule not only bans school picnic buses from plying between 11 pm and 6 am but now the schools will have to provide details of a number of boys and girls being taken for a trip, names of teachers accompanying, parents agreement letter, etc in an application to be submitted to the DEO.

The notification issued on Friday stated, “It is important for students to be taken for educational purpose be it excursion, place visit, personal meeting, organisation visit, museum travel and picnic. But schools need to follow the rules framed by the state government.”

As per new rules, schools will have to form a panel or committee to discuss the desired destination/place, route, time-table, estimated time and cost. Apart from this, schools will also have to take an agreement letter from parents for the visit. It has also been mandated to have female teachers for female students as a guide. For every 20 students, one teacher should be assigned the duty. 

State comes down heavily on pvt tuitions

To curb the menace of private tuitions run by teaching and non-teaching staff, the state government on Saturday issued a notification that prohibits such activities. The government has come down heavily on schools and have asked the schools to send a certificate (monthly) stating that no employee is running private tuitions. The notification stated: The department has received oral and written representation from student organisations complaining of teaching and non-teaching staff running private tuitions. If anyone is found breaking the rules, steps would be taken against the school.

KNOW THE RULES

• Number of boys and girls and the total strength should be mentioned
   
• Names of teachers and students not accompanying in the picnic
   
• Follow RTO safety instructions and not exceed the permitted passenger limit as specified by RTO
   
• Application form for educational purpose visit should be authorised\
   
• Places invoking fear or danger to be avoided