The Rajasthan Education Department has taken a significant step by banning the entry of unauthorized persons into government schools across the state. This decision also includes a strict prohibition on taking photographs or recording videos within the school premises without prior permission. The Director of Secondary Education issued an official letter regarding these new regulations on Sunday, August 16. This government order comes at a time when the 'School Thik Karo' (Fix the Schools) campaign has been gaining momentum, leading to increased scrutiny of educational institutions.
Context of the Decision
The timing of this order is particularly noteworthy as it follows an incident that occurred 2 days ago. Ashutosh Ranka, the spokesperson for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), visited a government school in Alwar as part of the 'School Thik Karo' campaign. During his visit, Ranka raised serious questions regarding the dilapidated condition of the school building and the lack of clean drinking water for students. The video of this visit and the subsequent questioning of the school's infrastructure had gone viral, prompting a reaction from the state authorities.
Mandatory Visitor Registration
According to the new guidelines issued by the Education Department, no outsider will be allowed to enter the premises of government schools in the state without the prior permission of the Principal. The department clarified that this rule won't apply to officials who have been authorized by the government for official duties. The letter issued by the Director of Secondary Education specifies that every visitor must make an entry in the visitor register before entering the school campus, while this measure is intended to maintain a record of everyone visiting the institution and to enhance security.
Restrictions on Media and Photography
The new regulations go beyond just physical entry. No outsider is permitted to enter classrooms, hostels, libraries, toilets, or any other areas related to student activities without being accompanied by an authorized employee or teacher of the school. On top of that, the order explicitly states that no photography, video making, interviewing, audio recording, or live streaming can be conducted within the school without the prior written permission of the Principal, while the Education Department emphasized that school authorities must ensure that photos, videos, or personal information of students aren't published or circulated in a way that affects their privacy, dignity, or safety.
Enforcement and Police Involvement
The Director of Secondary Education has provided clear instructions on how to handle violations of these rules, while if any person enters the school premises without permission and refuses to leave, or attempts unauthorized photography or videography, the Principal is required to immediately inform the local police and the District Education Officer (DEO). The letter also empowers Principals to prevent any outsider from entering the school if they believe that such entry would negatively impact the security, privacy, discipline, or the overall academic environment of the institution.
Reaction from CJP
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has reacted strongly to this new directive from the Education Department. CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka expressed his views on the social media platform X, stating that instead of fixing the schools, the Rajasthan government is focusing on stopping school audit activities. He asserted that no matter what the government does, they will continue their efforts to get the schools fixed, while ranka further challenged the authorities, saying that the Rajasthan Police could feel free to file an FIR against him and his team, but they wouldn't be stopped from visiting and improving the condition of government schools in Rajasthan.