Kollam: In a move to ensure the safety of school students the Kerala Commission for Protection of Child Rights has ordered that night classes and excursions conducted by private tuition centres and parallel colleges should be stopped.
The Commission passed the order on a petition filed by Sam John, education activist and teacher of Mar Thoma High School, Valakom, demanding restrictions on tours organised by tuition centres without due permission.
Commission Member Reni Antony issued the order by pointing out that since night classes conducted by tuition centres during the SSLC and Higher Secondary examinations were beyond the class hours, they would pose a challenge to the students’ psychological and physical health and put mental pressure on the parents.
Excursions conducted by schools are organised after obtaining permission from the Education department and under the supervision and direction of teachers.
The order was passed following the finding that excursions conducted by tuition centres do not obtain the required permissions nor have any supervision, exposing them to the risk of mishaps and that such trips do not follow the guidelines regarding study tours.
The Commission directed the Secretaries to the General Education Department, Local Self-Government, State Police Chief, and the Transport Commissioner to report about compliance within 60 days.
Late last year Minister for General Education V Sivankutty had directed schools in Kerala to refrain from taking students for excursions at night. The order was issued following a bus accident in which five students and a teacher were killed in Palakkad.
"Schools have been directed to avoid excursions during the night, especially between 9 pm and 6 am," Sivankutty said. "They have also been directed to only avail vehicles for study tours from the list of tour operators approved by the Kerala Tourism Department," the minister added.