PUNE: December is when most educational institutes plan excursions, but school authorities and parents have to remember and follow the safety guidelines the education department has issued for such trips.Medha Sinnarkar, principal of Laxmanrao Apte Prashala, said that organising a school trip is one of the biggest responsibilities teachers undertake and from the time the students leave until the time they are back with their parents, they are under stress. She said they follow every guideline issued by the ZP and more. They get approvals from the ZP education officer and their managements before the trip.The school ensures that they get a state transport bus instead of a private bus and take written permission from the parents and ensure that they know where they are taking their wards. We explain the trip to the students and pair them up so that two students are always together. We always count the students and ensure that wherever they go, there is a group. Every group of 20 students has a teacher with them. We take medicines and a first aid kit and note down any specific medical needs of the student. One teacher always sits near the driver keeping a watch to ensure that the speed limit is followed and that the driver doesnt fall asleep or drink alcohol, Sinnarkar added.The guidelines by the education department can be viewed on the circular section of the deputy director of educations website. Several parents said they want schools to make them aware of all the places their wards will be taken to. Just saying that the student will be taken to Ratnagiri or Mumbai is not enough, they added.The school must tell the parents about the route taken, the different places where the students will visit during the trip so that we can make an informed choice. Many undertakings given by schools say that the students are being sent under the parents responsibility. If the school is taking the students, then the school authorities are responsible. Guidelines say the same thing, a parent said.The norms say that action will be taken against principals who organise tours without permission to places just for entertainment or to those which abound in natural beauty but pose a threat to the safety. We also published the following articles recentlyFeedback form will be taken every month from students of meritorious schools: Minister Harjot Bains; school principal also suspendedPunjab School Education Minister visits hospital to check on Meritorious School students; feedback forms to be taken monthly to prevent incidents; decline in food quality after Diwali; principal suspended; students complained but no action taken; students in hospital for anxiety; food samples sent for testing; investigation ongoing.Driver, student die in school bus accident in RoopangarhA driver and a 10-year-old student died when a school bus collided with a private bus due to heavy fog. 12 injured, including a critically injured student, were referred to Ajmer for treatment. District collector Bharti Dixit ensured treatment for all injured. The accident occurred between Kekri and Amarpura village in Ajmer. Police reported that the school bus was picking up students when the collision happened. Villagers and police provided immediate assistance and transported the injured to nearby hospitals.Four drunk TN school students abuse teachers and headmasterFour students from a government higher secondary school in Tamil Nadus Villupuram district were arrested for causing a disturbance while under the influence of alcohol. They abused teachers, damaged school property, and issued death threats. The students were charged under the Indian Penal Code and arrested. PMK founder S Ramadoss expressed shock and called for the closure of all liquor shops and the implementation of total prohibition in the state.

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