Oman education: School exemption clause in accident cases removed

Muscat: A controversial clause, that exempted Indian School Nizwa authorities from any responsibility to provide any compensation in case of a student suffering physical injury, has been removed, a top official of the school said.
The clause, which was included in the application forms issued for new admissions read: “If any accident occurs in the school premises or outside during the normal school activities, picnics, tours etc, resulting in any kind of physical injury, deformity or loss of life to my ward, I will not hold the school responsible for any compensation or damage from the school authorities.”
“It came to my notice recently and I directed the principal to remove this undertaking and print new admission forms,” Dr Ayoob CP, Indian School Nizwa school management committee president, told the Times of Oman.
According to the president, this admission form, with the controversial clause, had been in use since 2012. “After I took charge, this is the first year of admission. Hereafter, we will use new admission forms with a simple declaration,” the president added.
However, parents said it was quite disappointing to see such a clause in the form.
“I signed it, however, but I have also registered my protest. We parents are waiting to see whether they will act or not. If they don’t backtrack from such a stance, we will approach the Indian embassy and other authorities,” a parent said.
When informed that school will issue new forms without the controversial clause, the parents said they have not been informed by the school about the new forms.
Seven people, including four Class II students, one teacher and two Omani drivers, lost their life in a tragic school bus accident in Nizwa on January 28.
The children were returning to the school from a picnic on board the ill-fated bus. A child who was injured in the accident is still fighting for life in the hospital on a high dependency bed.
Medics told the Times of Oman that the child is not showing much progress and is still in a critical condition.
Meanwhile, the school president said that compensation will be paid from the school side and also according to the norms of Road Traffic Accident rules for the kin of those who lost their life in the January 28 accident.