Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Dec 7: As schools and colleges across Karnataka begin planning year-end educational tours, a comprehensive advisory has been issued by additional director general of police (traffic & road safety), R Hitendra, outlining mandatory safety protocols and supervisory responsibilities for institutions sending students on excursions.
With a surge in travel to tourist destinations and heavy reliance on KSRTC and private buses, the ADGP has insisted that no vehicle may depart without a prior fitness confirmation from the Regional Transport Office.
Emphasising the importance of vehicle safety, he stated that schools must ensure “the mechanical condition and roadworthiness of every bus is verified before the journey begins”.
He further directed institutions to confirm that drivers are completely free from alcohol consumption or narcotic addiction, reiterating that this responsibility rests with the school authorities. In situations where tours involve a night halt, teachers have been instructed to maintain close supervision over drivers throughout the duration of the stay.
The circular also underscores the importance of preparedness when travelling between districts. Schools must collect and maintain the contact numbers of the police control rooms of the districts they will be passing through and ensure that students receive clear instructions regarding permissible and prohibited behaviour well before departure.
Hitendra reminded institutions that guidelines issued by the School Education Department and related authorities—covering the purpose of the trip, safety arrangements, required permissions, cost disclosures, parental consent, emergency contacts, and supervisory arrangements—must be strictly adhered to without exception.
Detailing the procedures to be completed before leaving for any educational tour, the ADGP directed that the destination, date, duration, and educational objective of the trip should be finalised well in advance. Necessary prior permission must be obtained from the head of the institution, the education authorities and, where needed, the district administration.
Transport arrangements must be made only through reliable and verified operators after proper scrutiny. Every bus must have at least one teacher and one guard onboard, and a fully equipped first-aid kit along with updated emergency medical contact information must be readily available.
A teacher is to be held responsible for every group of 10 to 15 students to ensure close supervision. Schools are also required to maintain a complete list of all participating students along with the mobile numbers of their parents, and no student may join the tour without a written parental consent letter.
“Schools and colleges must implement all these precautions meticulously to guarantee the safety of every student on educational tours,” Hitendra stressed, cautioning institutions against any lapse in compliance.