Mangaluru: Several schools in Dakshina Kannada have called off their annual student tours this year following safety concerns sparked by a drowning incident at a Murudeshwar beach and fears related to cyclones. These tours, typically scheduled between November and December, are usually planned for one to five days, both within Karnataka and out of state.
Teachers reported that the cancellations were prompted by confusion created by a viral, though fake, social media message suggesting the government had banned school tours due to the Murudeshwar incident. Concerned parents further fueled the decision to cancel the trips.
Manjunath MG, the BEO of Bantwal, mentioned that he received over 30 calls from schools informing him of their decision to cancel tours this year. Despite the state government’s reassurance that tours could proceed with necessary safety measures, most schools chose to postpone their trips to next year. Some schools, he added, alternate between holding an annual day and a school tour every other year.
One parent, whose child attends a private primary school, shared that their planned one-day trip to Pilikula was cancelled days before the date. Teachers from aided schools also mentioned similar cancellations due to safety concerns over the cyclone and the false social media message.
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