Schools to contest state’s revised bus policy: association

NAVI MUMBAI: The 28- year- old Navi Mumbai Area Schools’ Association, which is apex body of about 50 schools in the city, has planned to protest against the ‘corrected’ guidelines of the school bus policy that was announced earlier this week.

The association is scheduled to meet soon to determine its course of action.

“All the principals from the association are concer ned about the repercussions of these revised guidelines on us and our schools and we shall be meeting shortly to review them,” said Jose Kurian, the secretary of the association and principal of DAV public school.

Principals are especially worried about the clause that says that principals are solely responsible for the safe transportation of students and hence requires daily supervision from them.

“What is required is not a welldrafted guideline or policy, but rather a conscious and sincere attempt to understand the different areas of safety for children and to sensitise, support and strengthen the different stakeholders involved in implementing these safety norms, besides holding them accountable for violations or negligence,” said Kurian.

Another guideline that has drawn flak is one which requires all students to use school buses and disallowing students from coming to school in private cars. Many van operators have also objected to this clause.

Van operators said the guidelines could take away their livelihood. “It must be the parent’s decision whether or not they want their child to use the school bus,” said Asha Singh, parent from Vashi.

HT PHOTO One contentious clause is that principals are responsible for students’ safety.