The decision comes after the Supreme Court asked the state government to prepare a list of activities that they think can be offered as optional in schools
There's good news for parents this academic session. Transportation, field trips, swimming and many more items, listed by the Gujarat government, will now be offered as optional in schools. With a notification released on Tuesday by the state government, activities such as transportation, hostel accommodation, meals in school, excursions, field trips, horse riding, swimming, club activities, books and stationery will no longer be offered as mandatory by schools.
The decision comes after the Supreme Court, hearing a petition concerning Gujarat Self-Financed Schools (Regulation of Fees) Act last week, asked the state government to prepare a list of activities that they think can be offered as optional in schools.
On April 24, the SC had asked the state government and school managements to prepare a joint scheme for activities and expenses incurred. The formula, if possible, should be acceptable to both, the bench had said. Last week, the state government submitted that extra-curricular activities along with transport, etc, should not be forced upon children and instead be offered as optional. This was submitted after meetings with the school federation and parents association.
The notification also states that schools need to inform parents about the same at the earliest. Apart from the abovementioned activities, activities which are outside the board's curriculum also should not be mandatory. Further, it stated that those schools which have not yet submitted their proposals to the Fee Regulatory Committee (FRC) will have to submit within two weeks.
State Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said, "Many schools were charging a lot of money through these activities. Hence, we did not want parents to bear all the burden. Activities such as swimming and horse riding should be a matter of choice and not mandatory."
NOT A MUST
Last week, the state government submitted to the Supreme Court that extra-curricular activities along with transport, etc, should not be forced upon children and instead be offered as optional.
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