School trips to require authority\'s approval

Sharjah Private schools will not be able to organise school trips without prior approval from the Sharjah Educational Zone. A circular distributed this week to all private schools in the emirate warned administrations against conducting non-curricula school trips without prior approval. The Sharjah Educational Zone also said severe problems result from such conduct, and called upon all schools to abide by regulations. The zone further called upon schools to explain the dangers of such trips to both students and their parents, after it was noticed that students arrange such trips among themselves on holidays and away from school and parental supervision. The zone also expressed its hope that parents will understand the eagerness of the educational zone to protect students against possible dangers. Sources at the Sharjah Educational Zone said it took the initiative of warning schools and parents because it was lately noted that private school students were conducting trips where recurrent accidents took place and resulted in the demise of female and male students. The latest accident took place in Sharjah led to the death of a grade 12 female student after returning from a trip. She was run over by a car as she crossed the street to take a bus with her schoolmates after a trip to Al Nazwa in Sharjah.