Bengaluru: The Government of Karnataka has implemented new, stringent regulations regarding educational tours to ensure the safety and discipline of college students. Accordingly, the Department of Collegiate Education has completely banned students from taking selfies or filming ‘Reels’ during educational tours undertaken by government first-grade colleges. The department has introduced nine strict measures to maintain discipline and prevent accidents—often caused by students becoming distracted while taking selfies or filming Reels in dangerous locations during these trips. Here is a report on the matter:
No Selfies or Reels: Taking selfie videos, photos, or filming Reels of any kind during the tour is prohibited. The tour’s purpose must be strictly educational.
Maximum 5-Day Limit: The duration of the educational tour must not exceed five days.
Mandatory Departmental Permission: No tour may be organized without obtaining prior written permission from the Department of Collegiate Education. Additionally, a detailed itinerary and a list of places to be visited must be submitted in advance.
Parental Consent Letter: Before embarking on the tour, a written undertaking signed by the students and their parents must be obtained and submitted to the department. No tours during the monsoon: For safety reasons, permission will not be granted to undertake educational tours during the monsoon season.
Presence of permanent faculty: Permanent lecturers must mandatorily accompany the students on the tour; sending only guest lecturers is not permitted.
Staff limits and female lecturers: The number of teaching staff accompanying the tour must not exceed four. This group must mandatorily include two female lecturers and one Group-D employee.
Information to local police: Before undertaking the tour, the itinerary and complete details must be provided to the local police station having jurisdiction over the area.
Special safety for hazardous locations: Precautions must be taken when visiting hazardous places such as rivers, the sea, waterfalls, dense forests, or steep hills. Specifically, for activities like trekking or swimming, certified experts must be present, and necessary safety clearances must be obtained from local authorities.
Overall, the government has warned that these new regulations apply not only to government colleges but also to private and aided colleges, and that disciplinary action will be taken against educational institutions that violate these rules.