The Federal Students’ Organisation, Kangleipak (FESOK) on Monday raised serious concerns over overloading of students in school vans beyond their capacity and urged the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) and the Education department to look into the matter and initiate necessary actions.
The school vans are taking advantage of fuel price hike and for their convenience, carrying both the primary classes and upper primary class students in a single trip, FESOK stated in a release issued by its secretary publicity S Preety. The school vans are overloading the students and they are increasing the fare at an unusual rate, it stated.
It also alleged that maximum of the students are picked-up two hours prior to the timing for school opening and the students are dropped-off two hours after the school timing as they are adjusting both the students of primary and upper primary classes in a single trip.
According to the school timing fixed by the state government, there is a two hours difference between the timing of the primary and upper primary classes, it mentioned.
As a result, the students are exploited by the van services for their convenience by making them suffer for some hours before and after school timing, it further stated, adding, the homework given by the teachers is another burden added to the students.
If this trend continues, many parents will be unable to bear the travelling expenses of their children, and there is a big apprehension that the students will start suffering from various health issues, the release added.
Drawing attention of the school authorities to take up appropriate measures, it further stated that the van service community cannot claim that their service is not related with the schools.
FESOK further announced that it will be strictly monitoring such unusual school van services. It sought the cooperation of the general public in taking up activities for the welfare of the student’s society.
