Tours are an extension of the classroom environment to other areas that are aimed at reinforcing particular content that is learned and rejuvenating their understanding. There is an important group of teachers who ensure that they open up learners and the school community to the outside world. Parents should be ready to cooperate with teachers to ensure that the tour is successful. Most parents fail teachers by not paying the money designated for the successful completion of the tour.
However, there are other parents who have lately paid large sums of money to enable their children to visit foreign countries and have even gone as far as securing travel documents like passports and visas.
The booking for air travel is mainly done online, and learners are forced to cover thousands of kilometers overseas to reach the destination of the desired study.
It’s advisable for the teachers conducting any tour to have a prior visit to the places in question before the actual day of the tour and to book an appointment with the authorities of the firm.
Some teachers have been touring only imagining what the cost would be, then fail to achieve the intended objective, which makes assume they were duped by the tour director.
The capacity of the vehicle must be honored. This will make the teacher safe in case of any eventuality. Some teachers who forced drivers to accept overloading of the travel vehicles have found themselves in trouble, especially after the vehicle was involved in an accident. They have been attending court for over 10 years to explain why common sense did not prevail.
Before a tour is taken, the Ministry of Education Director and the Teachers’ Service Commission must be served with a list of learners and teachers, who will then approve or disapprove.
All vehicles belonging to schools should not carry any learners after 10 p.m. and must be parked at the nearest police post after such a time.
It’s the duty of the teachers to ensure that the vehicle is not speeding or being driven dangerously by the driver.
Learners using the means of transport must be in uniform and must have their learner identification cards.
The teachers must ensure that tires are not worn out, the vehicle has valid insurance related to its capacity, and it is roadworthy.
All tour directors in schools should take time to look at these requisite demands to ensure that they are not on the wrong side of the law.
According to the Traffic Act (Cap 403) of the transport laws, learner safety is paramount, especially when they are in transit, whether they are using vehicles or motorcycles.
Each school should have a crossing guard or crosswalk attendant who should wear a reflective jacket and exercise due care to ensure the safety of children when traveling.
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The law goes on to remind the tour director that the school vehicle should operate between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and no unauthorized person shall be allowed to drive if not the designated driver.
It states that children under 12 years old should not occupy the front seat, and no driver shall leave the driver’s seat while the engine is running or leave the key in the ignition switch.
Another important item is that each learner must occupy their own seat, which must be fitted with a standard safety belt.
Some laws may appear simple but are very critical and should be observed by the crossing guard, the driver, and the tour director.
By Hillary Muhalya.
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