Karnataka government bans selfies, reels on college tours

Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar

BENGALURU: The department of collegiate education has directed govt first-grade colleges to prohibit students from taking selfies or shooting reels during educational tours, citing safety concerns.

Tour duration, including travel, is capped at five days.These instructions are part of a detailed set of safety guidelines issued for college excursions on Sept 11. The department has directed principals to brief students about restrictions before the trip begins. Faculty members have been asked to keep close watch on students.Colleges must take written approval from the department before organising an educational tour.

Student undertakings and formal consent from parents must be submitted along with the tour proposal. Once approved, the itinerary cannot be changed.Colleges cannot take students to locations not included in the plan.The department has advised colleges not to organise educational tours during the monsoon season.Experts must if trips include trekking or swimming, says govtFor trips involving potentially risky locations such as rivers, sea, waterfalls, dense forests or steep hills, colleges have been told to make safety arrangements in advance.

If the itinerary includes trekking or swimming, students can participate only when certified experts are part of the team and local safety clearances have been obtained.Local police officers, too, must be informed of the trip. Colleges have to provide police details of the tour and its itinerary. At least one permanent lecturer must be part of every tour, and students cannot be taken on excursions supervised only by guest lecturers, the circular added. The teaching staff accompanying a tour has been capped at four, with the team required to include two female lecturers and one Group D employee.