Telangana government allows school students’ tour to Ramoji Film City amid past outing restrictions
Telangana government has permitted government school students to visit Ramoji Film City at Rs.1,000 per student, including lunch and campus attractions. Teachers have questioned the decision, citing past restrictions on school outings after accidents and the Beas River tragedy in 2014.
Hyderabad: While school excursions and educational tours have been barred for the past several years, the Telangana Congress government has now permitted government schools to visit a private film city at Rs.1,000 per student, a decision that appears to serve the interests of the film city.
On Thursday, School Education Director Dr. E Naveen Nicolas issued proceedings allowing government schools to visit the Ramoji Film City (RFC), mentioning that the RFC extended a special discounted educational and recreational tour exclusively for government schools at Rs.1,000 per student.
This proceedings has raised eyebrows as the education department has recently issued instructions to schools not to take students out after a recent incident where some students met with an accident while they were on the way to collect some books.
Even before such instructions had been issued, the Education department had not been allowing educational tours after the Beas river tragedy that claimed the lives of 24 engineering students who were on educational tour in 2014.
On several occasions, when the headmasters sought permission from the DEOs, their requests were either ignored or turned down citing orders from the higher ups. Teachers have questioned now as to how, not even a month after issuing those strict instructions asking not to take students for an outing, the department granted a special exception for a tour to the RFC. They have also questioned why a private film studio is being prioritised over museums, zoos and other educational tours.
“Field visit, picnic and recreational tours are part of the academic activities for students. However, due to past incidents, permissions are not being granted by the DEO. But some headmasters are secretly taking students for outings. We wonder how the approval has now been given to visit the film city,” said a headmaster, requesting anonymity.
As per proceedings, the RFC package includes access to major attractions such as guided studio tour, action theatre, eureka attractions, fundustan (children’s activity zone), amphitheatre shows, live shows and performances, filmy duniya, gardens, theme sets and backlots. In addition, the RFC will provide internal transportation within the campus from the eureka attraction.
The package also includes a complimentary veg lunch to all children, and complimentary passes for visiting school headmaster and for one teacher for every 15 students.
Dr. Nicolas asked schools not to plan the tour between December 21 and January 2, 2026, as the RFC will not allow school visits during that period. He said transportation from the school to the RFC has to be borne by school only..
