After the recent tragic mishaps in two Mumbai school trips, parents of students of a school in Marine Drive alleged that the school is forcing them to accompany children on school tours.
After the recent tragic mishaps in two Mumbai school trips, parents of students of a school in Marine Drive alleged that the school is forcing them to accompany children on school tours.
In a written complaint to the Forum for Fairness in Education, parents of students of Hindi Vidya Bhavan Academy claimed that the school has compelled parents to go on school tours.
“School trips are mandatory and the students are given projects to complete on the trip. If a child misses the trip, he/she loses marks. This year, they even pressurised us to go for school tours. The school said that if the students do not go on the trip they will not allow them to sit for exams,” said a parent, requesting anonymity.
Parents claimed the school has an ulterior motive of profiteering through these trips. “Though these trips are only for a few days, the school is charging exorbitant fees, from Rs 6,000 onwards, and they also charge extra for adults. There is a clear nexus between the tour operator and the school,” said another parent.
However, the school denied these claims. They said they do not encourage parents on trips. “These trips are educational. Recently we excused a diabetic child from coming to the trip since she needed constant attention and insulin shots,” said Chandrakanta Pathak, school principal.
According to Pathak, the tours may cost a packet but only because they offer the best of facilities such as accommodation in three-star hotels, travel in luxury buses, etc.
Jayant Jain, forum president, claimed that schools are taking such measures due to the recent accidents. “Schools do not want to take responsibility of children during trips. In most schools, they make parents sign undertakings that whatever happens to the children during these trips is not the school’s responsibility.”
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