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Drowning of students: TN issues fresh guidelines for school tours

In a circular to private schools, S.Kannappan, director of matriculation schools, said the school tours should not exceed more than four days.

Chennai: Taking strong exception to the drowning of three Chennai students in Mulshi dam near Pune recently, the Directorate of Matriculation Schools has issued fresh guidelines for school tours in which it has made mandatory to get the prior permission from the department before going on such trips.

In a circular to private schools, S.Kannappan, director of matriculation schools, said the school tours should not exceed more than four days.

He also insisted on detailed planning like getting the parents approval and choosing the place considering the weather conditions.

Three students from ECI Matriculation school in Tondiarpet, Danish Raja, Santhosh, Saravanan all aged 13 drowned in the backwaters of Mulshi dam near Pune on April 27.

The circular blamed the school management for the unfortunate death of three teenagers as the school was not taken the prior permission from the department and precautionary measures before taking the students on tour.

To prevent such incidents in future, the director of matriculation schools urged the schools to create safety awareness among the students and advised the schools to depute one teacher for 10 students on such trips.

"During the trips, students should not be allowed to go near water bodies such as dams, rivers, lakes and waterfalls. If the students travel in a bus, the vehicle should not be allowed to ply between 10 pm and 4 am to prevent untoward incidents," the circular said.

"A teacher trained in the first aid should accompany each tour with necessary medicines. The students should not be allowed to go separately or play without the supervision of their teachers," it urged.

The school managements also advised to prepare ID cards with details including residential address, school name, cell numbers and blood group and make them wear.

"The school management should not make tours mandatory for all students and the tours also not to be aimed at making profits," the circular warned the private schools.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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