In a sweeping regulatory move designed to prevent hazardous accidents and safeguard students during official excursions, the Karnataka Education Department has issued comprehensive safety guidelines for educational tours organized by government colleges across the state. Under the newly notified mandate released by the Commissioner’s office on Saturday, authorities have instituted a blanket prohibition on students capturing selfies, recording video footage, and filming social media reels during their journeys. The directive comes amid growing concerns over youth getting distracted near perilous terrains, water bodies, and cliff edges, prompting state education authorities to establish zero-tolerance enforcement protocols during off-campus excursions.
Mandatory Approvals, Parental Affidavits, and Pre-Screened Itineraries
The department has established rigorous administrative clearance procedures that every government educational institution must complete before finalizing any excursion. Colleges are now strictly required to formulate detailed tour itineraries, obtain advance formal clearances from the education directorate, and visit only those destinations explicitly pre-approved by the government. In addition, institutions must secure signed affidavits from both students and their parents acknowledging behavioral norms and safety protocols, while faculty leads must conduct mandatory orientation sessions briefing all participants on trip regulations prior to boarding transit vehicles.
Strict Teacher Accountability and Heightened Security for Female Students
Placing paramount focus on student welfare—particularly the protection and privacy of female students—the circular warns that accompanying teachers must maintain constant supervision to ensure no student engages in selfie-taking, content creation, or wandering away from designated groups. Departmental authorities emphasized that institutional oversight will be strictly enforced: both accompanying faculty members and college principals will be held directly and legally responsible should any untoward incident, safety breach, or accident occur during the journey, while non-compliant tour guides and participating schools risk severe administrative penalties.