By Howard Masaninga
Children are priceless treasure to us, both parents and society at large.
Though deemed troublesome or burdensome in other circles, they are a treasured lot.
This coming school term, is defined as the “ball-games” term, for most of the sporting activities have to do with the balls.
However, while we applaud the education authority for coming up with this important calendar, it is the sector’s attitude to refuse responsibility over the very children should any eventuality happen.
We are compelled as parents and the society at large, to ask, why?
By committing to fulfill our obligation to meet all the school demands upon enrolling our kids, parents expect the school to also play its end.
Unknown to most parents, the indemnity form that they are made to sign as a show of consent to allow their children to travel and participate in these competitions, the form clearly states that the school is not liable in the event of an injury or accident involving the child, nevermind the extent.
In fact, there is an undue pressure under the pretext of consent.
More so, these forms are given to children on the eve of the competition or trip.
This is by design, to ensure that there is no room for parents to question this anomaly.
While some school authorities end up taking responsibility, in the event of any eventuality, this is out of humanity.
The broader policy is that the school has no business in the injuries or fatalities of it’s pupils or students on school duty.
It pokes the mind and to ask why?
Most interestingly, is the fact that we have teachers and to a large extent, some Schools Development Committee members accompanying these children who are quick to sign for their out of pocket allowances.
I am not very sure on whether they also fill in these indemnity forms or not.
The bottom line still remains the concern over the education sector to take responsibility over the child.
One would want to believe that once the child has been selected to represent the school in whatever competition, whether at their school or another, it is imperatively proper that the school obliges to meet the child’s support including medical or otherwise.
Of course, depending with the gravity of the matter, the school should demonstrate it’s commitment to the child’s welfare during school duty.
Parents, at the same time, should also help make life easy for both the child and the school.
I know for a fact that both parties have tried to do their part, but unfortunately, the other party seems to only care when the situation has never arisen, where the health of the child could be at risk.
These are the positive dynamics we envisage to see being effected by the authorities.
The children belong to the school in as much as they belong to the parents.
Collectively, the matter of the indemnity form being used as a weapon by schools to intimidate parents, should not be allowed to happen.
Actually, before the games begin, it is critical that the clause contained on the indemnity form, which quietly forces parents to sign under duress, must be reviewed with an intension to replace it with a more proactive amendment that obligies the school authorities to prioritise health, safety and participation of the children in these competitions and not just the school’s reputation or records.
This positions the parents on the pedestal to start discussions around the amendment of the indemnity form.
