The State government has accepted the draft guidelines on participation of students in public functions, amid criticism that school children are being brought to show crowd at venues of MGR centenary celebrations.
As per the guidelines, school authorities should not give permission to take students outside the schools to attend any event that is meant to further political motive of any party. The guidelines were suggested by the Inter-Departmental Committee formed by the Department of School Education. The department has also issued a government order accepting the guidelines which describes the role of various departments and stakeholders and the do’s and don’ts when children are made to participate in public functions, rallies and campaigns held outside schools.
Among the don’ts, the key aspects include students shall not be made to greet political leaders en-route or at the event and students should not be made to attend events during holidays except on certain days of national and state importance.
The guidelines also said that the participation should be voluntary in nature and parents should be informed well in advance about the benefits of attending such events. The decision to permit their wards should be completely left to them.
The GO said the guidelines would be applicable to only those events where students are permitted or taken at the behest of School Education Department. Events would include all the activities, which have been either partially or fully funded or organised or sponsored by the government /departments /public sector units/ local bodies /public-private partnerships, the order said.
It also said the duration of events and timings of sessions should be designed in such a way that the students are not put to any inconvenience. The guidelines added that the final decision on the utility of the event for the students would be of a committee headed by the Collector at the district-level and by Director of School Education, Director of Elementary Education and Director of Matriculation Schools at the State-level.
It also said if parents/guardians wish to accompany students they should be permitted and women teachers shall accompany girls in the ratio of 1:20.
The guidelines come in the wake of a PIL petition filed by CHANGEindia against compelling participation of thousands of schoolchildren at the venues of MGR centenary celebrations.
