Edu deptt to review decision requiring schools to seek permission for student picnics: DSEK

Srinagar, May 19: In a significant development, the School Education Department (SED) is likely to review its decision taken for schools to seek permission from authorities for organizing school picnics.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Dr G N Itoo said that they will review the decision taken earlier for schools for seeking permission for picnics.

“We will review it. I have also learnt that schools are facing problems in getting permissions from their concerned officers for taking students for picnic. Some cases reached to my office as well,” Itoo told Greater Kashmir.

As already reported by this newspaper, SED in April this year imposed ban on schools for taking students for picnic on weekends and holidays. The schools were asked to obtain consent from parents at least 10 days before the scheduled trip.

Besides, the department issued certain SOPs for the schools to be followed for taking students for picnic.

As per the SOPs, the High and Higher Secondary Schools were directed to mandatorily get permission from the concerned Chief Education Officer (CEOs) while Primary and Middle Schools were asked to obtain permission from concerned Zonal Education Officers

The SoPs were issued by the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in wake of the tragic road accident of a Degree College bus in which students died while 25 were injured while travelling from Sogam to Pahalgam for picnic.

However, scores of the schools complained that the concerned officers were not ready to grant permission to the schools for taking students on picnic.

“The officers at zonal level and district level do not sign the applications submitted by the schools. They remain apprehensive of any untoward incident and think the blame will ultimately come on them for allowing schools to go for picnic,” a school head told Greater Kashmir.

The school heads said that the department should review the decision and it should be made mandatory only to inform the concerned officer instead of seeking permission.

“The tourist footfall has already dwindled. All the tourist spot are almost deserted. So if schools are freely allowed to organize picnic for students, it will bring hustle and bustle to these tourist areas,” the school head said.

Following this, DSEK Dr. G N Itoo said the department will review the decision for the convenience of the schools.