Channankara mishap: Guidelines issued to schools

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Against the backdrop of the school van mishap at Channankara, the State Government on Tuesday asked schools to ensure that the vehicles transporting students reduce speed while moving close to water bodies. The recommendation is one of the 14 guidelines issued by the Director of Public Instruction to ensure the safety of students who rely on school buses and private vehicles for transportation. Each school should assign a teacher and another staff to handle the day-to-day affairs related with the transportation of students. An executive member of the Parent Teacher Association shall assist the teacher in charge. A committee comprising PTA members should closely monitor the service of the vehicles and periodically submit reports. It is the responsibility of the teachers to work in cooperation with the local police and Motor Vehicles Department to conduct awareness programmes for drivers of school buses and vans. The school authorities have also been instructed to keep a register with details of the vehicles engaged in transporting students.