After a hiatus of two years forced by the Covid pandemic, schools are gradually shifting back to normal. This is evident with several schools planning excursions. The demand of such trips in high amongst students, said school heads.
One school has scheduled a trip in October. Another institution in the city has floated the idea of a trip it has received support from majority of the parents. Before the pandemic, schools would send students from middle and senior classes on excursions at least once a year. Parents would pay for such trips.
“The demand for excursions has grown over these two years. We can accommodate only a fixed number of students in a trip. The number of students willing to go is much more than what we can manage. We had to accommodate students on a first-come first-served basis and sadly had turn down requests from several students,” said Anjana Saha, principal of Mahadevi Birla World Academy.
She said that the school has had to prepare a wait list of 50 students for one trip where the limit was 100. The school has scheduled two trips — one in the Dooars and the other in Manali.
Interaction among students were limited during the last two years with classes being held on online platforms. Students are now keen to go on a trip to bond with friends, said teachers.
“In the last two years, they have been confined to their homes and now they want to travel. We have received inquiries from students, especially those in senior classes who have only a few months left of their school life. They are the ones who want to make the most of it,” said Meena Kak, principal of Lakshmipat Singhania Academy.
Several schools are also consulting tour operators like pre-pandemic times.
“Schools have been approaching us for trips. The demand for such trips is going up. The enquiries started coming during the summer vacation,” said Anil Punjabi, director of ARES Travels and chairman, eastern region, Travel Agents Federation of India.
Punjabi said that schools usually prefer tour operators with experience and travel professionals with whom they can trust their children.
South City International School has been talking to travel operators and is planning trips in November and January.
“Before starting off, we wanted to check the response of the parents. The majority of them are keen on sending their children on school trips,” said principal John Bagul.