Kerala bans night excursions for students, cracks down on safety violations

Schools across Kerala have been directed to avoid organizing student excursions during nighttime, according to new instructions issued by the government on Aug 21.

The directive also calls for ensuring sufficient parking facilities within school premises for vehicles transporting students.

General Education Minister V Sivankutty said that restrictions on night travel were already in place but were being disregarded by some schools.

He also raised concerns about private institutions excluding students who are unable to afford excursion costs.

“This practice should be curbed,” Sivankutty said.

He also criticized unaided schools for allowing only their own vehicles onto school premises, a policy he said has caused safety issues.

“Owing to such rules, a private van ferrying students to an unaided school fell into a ditch while reversing, injuring many students,” the minister said.

Sivankutty also confirmed disciplinary action against the headmaster of Government Higher Secondary School, Kundamkuzhy, in Kasaragod.

The headmaster, M Ashoka, reportedly assaulted a Class X student, causing a ruptured eardrum.

He has been transferred to Government HSS, Kadambur, as part of the departmental action.

The minister also said that the Director of General Education will investigate and report on the recent discovery of explosives near the entrance of Vyasa Vidya Peethom Senior Secondary School in Palakkad.