Mumbai: 

St Xavier's School in Andheri

In the wake of the terror attacks in various states, parents of the Std X students of St Xavier's School, Andheri, are upset about being forced to send their children for a study tour to Jaipur. The city was the site of deadly blasts in May this year.

The parents have been told that the trip has been organised as per the rules of the education department and the students who don't go will lose the 40 marks assigned to internal assessment for the subject of environmental studies. If the students lose the internal assessment marks, they will fail the subject and, consequently, the board exams.

Education department officials claim it is not mandatory for schools to take students to other states.

Parents speak

Said one parent, "The education department has no rule that says SSC students have to be taken out of Mumbai for a study tour. How can we send our kids to other states when it is not safe?

Parents also believe the school is using the trip to make money. One parent alleged, "The school is purposely asking us to shell out Rs 6,000."

Another parent said, "The principal told us it was compulsory or else the students would lose the internal
assessment marks for environmental studies, which is counted in the board exams. She also told us, 'If you can't afford the tour fees, why did you admit your kids in our school'."  Basanti Roy, secretary  of Secondary and Higher Secondary School Divisional Board, said, "Study tours are advisable for environmental studies. But schools can even take students to the nature parks in the city. Neither is it mandatory to take them to other
states, nor is it advisable."

Despite several attempts to get in touch with the school authorities, no one was available for comment.