- Parents skeptical about sending their kids to summer camps after the death of a boy during a swimming competition at a private school
The recent death of a 12-year-old boy who drowned during a swimming competition in a private school has made the parents skeptical about sending their children to summer camps during this summer, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Parents of various children studying in different schools shared their concerns with Pakistan Today regarding the lack of safety measures in various activities including swimming in summer camps being conducted at private schools.
They said that swimming was the most popular activity in summer camps being organised by various schools. However, they were skeptical about sending their children to summer camps as the schools did not have professional rescuers and trainers, they said.
The 12-year-old Suleman Manzoor Bhatti was a student of grade 6 and had taken part in a swimming competition at his school. He could not be saved as there was no life guard at the school.
Taking notice of the incident, Education EDO Tahir Parveen has cancelled the school’s registration. However, it still remains questionable if the children at the summer camps in other schools are safe or not.
Amjad, a father of two, talking to Pakistan Today said, “Both my sons study at a private school which has made it mandatory for us to send our children to the summer camp for swimming and riding among other activities. Summer vacations I believe are meant to protect children from scorching heat and not boil them in horse riding sessions. The trainers are seen sitting comfortably on their chairs while the children sweat with the horses. They do not have safety pads for riding neither do they have life guards at their swimming pool. I will pay the school whatever it asks for but I am not sending my children to the summer camp!”
Alia, a mother of two, expressed her anger over the schools charging fee for the camps which she claimed were not healthy for the kids.
“They have opened up summer camps only to mint money. The teachers do not come in, the administrators do not ensure their presence while the children swim on their own with a lower cadre school official. I spent an entire day at the school supervising my daughter as she swam. I was worried and had to ensure she was safe. I have paid the dues but I am not sure if I should continue sending my kid to the camp,” she said.
On the other hand, some parents believe that summer camps facilitated extracurricular activities like swimming, painting and riding which were mandatory for children’s growth. However, they too agreed that more emphasis should be laid on indoor activities than outdoor ones as most schools lacked necessary safety mechanisms.
A parent said, “The swimming pool at my son’s school has a very unhygienic environment let alone the availability of lifeguards. It gets suffocated in the locker room during electricity outages and the school does not have an alternate power supply. They published a very attractive brochure of the camp but the actual situation has disappointed me.”
Taking to Pakistan Today, Education EDO Tahira Parveen said that all the private schools have been sent a letter of the procedures to organise the summer camps failing which they would have to face the music. She added that the timings of the summer camps will be between 7am and 10pm. She said that the schools have been especially told to ensure the availability of at least one lifeguard during a swimming session.