Parents, teachers told to ‘keep eye on children’

Schools' regulatory body proposes GPS trackers to keep tab on students’ whereabouts

KARACHI:

The regulatory body of private educational institution has issued guidelines for parents and school administrations to prevent children from bunking school and ensure that they take their education seriously.

Sindh School Education & Literacy Department Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions Additional Director Prof Rafia Javed Mallah through a notification to parents and the management of private schools pointed out the issue of 'bunking' classes and school.

Students bunking classes are vulnerable to falling into traps of anti-social and criminal elements endangering their lives, she noted.

She suggested sharing attendance and academic progress of children with parents at monthly parent-teacher meeting and securing entry and exit of pupils during school time.

Moreover, Mallah proposed putting GPS trackers school bags to keep check on whereabouts of the children. Though it might require some technology, she suggested simpler method of automated SMS notification to parents on entry and exit of the child from school gate.

Mahar said that during inspections of various schools, it was reported that students were seen roaming around the school premises, instead of attending classes.

More seriously, senior students of the schools were spotted at picnic points like Sea View Beach, parks, gaming zones, chaikhanas, and markets.

According to the letter, it was noted during the routine inspection with serious concerns that the affairs of the students were not being handled appropriately. It is evident that the pupils inside the schools are loitering around in the hallways rather than attending class.

However, it has also been noted that some students, particularly those in Class IX and X, are erratic, irresponsible and disinterested in education. Some children leave home for school, instead, they head to parks, cafes, restaurants, marketplaces, Sea View and Clifton beaches and other entertainment venues where they practically indulge themselves in unhealthy food and stuff.

"Anti-social activities such as negligence are viewed as detrimental to the pupils as well as undesirable tendencies," Mallah wrote. The root cause of bunking has been recognised as the mutual unwillingness of parents and school management to enforce academic discipline among children.

It is clear from this that maintaining discipline among students is a collective duty. Toavoid this behaviour, the school administration and parents must take sufficient precautions and care. It is advised that parents and private schools closely abide by the following to stop children from engaging in undesirable and harmful activities on the one hand and to ensure that educational requirements are met on the other hand.

It is necessary for school managements to organise monthly meetings with parents to provide them with updates on their children's attendance and academic progress. There should be increased security for children coming in and going out of the school during the day.

Lastly, it is suggested that both parents and schools take into account implementing new and innovative monitoring techniques. These include enhanced CCTV surveillance, the use of GPS trackers in vehicles, bags, and lunchboxes, SMS notifications on student entry and exit, and the social interaction of parents is essential.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2023.