Gujarat has tightened school entry and recording rules across government and corporation-run schools, requiring most outsiders to obtain written permission from the principal or head of the institution before entering campus. The Education Department’s guidelines also restrict photography, videography, audio recording, interviews, live streaming and the making of reels without prior approval.
The measures were issued after an incident in Dahod and are intended to protect students’ safety, privacy and interests, according to the guidelines reported by Gujarat Samachar. Parents, authorised education officials and designated coordinators are exempt from the general outsider requirement, while other visitors must secure written permission before entering a school.
Every visitor entering a school will also have to record their details in the institution’s visitor register. Without permission, outsiders will not be allowed to enter classrooms, laboratories, libraries, hostels, playgrounds or toilets. The instructions apply to activities involving students, teachers and school operations, including the recording of educational activities.
The restrictions cover short videos, reels and live streaming as well as conventional photography and videography. The guidelines prohibit entertainment-oriented reels and short videos during school hours. Interviews and audio recordings will also require the written approval of the principal or institutional head.
The Education Department has directed inspection officers to ensure that schools follow the new access and recording controls. The circular states that legal action may be taken against people who enter without authorisation or record school-related material without permission.
The reported guidelines refer to possible action under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, child-care and child-protection laws, and the Information Technology Act where activities threaten children’s safety, privacy or interests. The reference to these laws establishes the legal framework cited in the circular; the precise action in an individual case would depend on the facts and applicable provisions.
The rules also raise questions about how access will be managed during political and government programmes held on school premises. Leaders, party office-bearers and other external participants may enter schools for such events, while photography and videography are often part of public programmes. The process for granting written permissions and recording visitor details during these events will therefore be important to implementation.
Gujarat’s decision follows similar measures reported in Rajasthan and Delhi. Rajasthan introduced guidelines in August to regulate outsider entry into government schools, while Delhi imposed restrictions in March on external access and photography and videography in government and municipal schools. Gujarat’s circular now extends the same broad focus on controlled entry, visitor records and authorised recording to government and corporation-run schools in the state.
