By order of the Minister, regulations regarding school excursions have been tightened

At the initiative of the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, regulations concerning school excursions have been tightened for organizers, and the rights, duties, and responsibilities of the parties participating in excursions have been regulated through an individual administrative act.

Under the new approach, the school is mandated to request documents from the transport company or physical person confirming the driver's qualifications and the roadworthiness of the vehicle. The school administration must be fully informed about the date, location, activities of the planned excursion, as well as the participating minors and adults. The excursion organizer/leader may be a student's representative, a teacher, or another person employed by the school;

The excursion leader must have comprehensive data on the participating students and parents, including information regarding a participating student's special needs. It is mandatory that the group includes an adult who possesses first-aid skills. The transportation of food products for the children's nutrition must be carried out in compliance with sanitary conditions. Compliance with the excursion implementation rules is mandatory for both the school and parents regarding excursions organized during school hours. Violation of these rules entails liability in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

This rule has already been sent to all general education institutions, and the Ministry urges all public and private schools to strictly observe all articles of the said act.

We would also like to note that back in 2016, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, together with the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs, developed recommendations related to the organization of excursions, which were also mandatory for general education institutions, yet did not apply to excursions organized by parents during school hours.

See the individual administrative act:

Rule for Implementing Excursions for Students of General Education Institutions

1. The Rule for Implementing Excursions for Students of General Education Institutions (hereinafter - the Rule) defines the planning and implementation of excursions for students of general education institutions, as well as the rights, duties, and responsibilities of students, their representatives, teachers, and persons participating in the implementation of the excursion.

2. This Rule applies to excursions organized by the school and parents during school hours.

3. For the purposes of this Rule, the terms used herein have the following meanings:

a) Excursion - an activity carried out by the school during school hours for entertainment and cognitive-educational purposes, which includes the movement of students, student representatives, and teachers by transport to a location determined by them in accordance with the procedure established by legislation. 

b) Excursion organizer - an adult who organizes the excursion. The organizer may be a student's representative, a teacher, or another person employed by the school;

c) Excursion leader - an adult who directly participates in a specific excursion and is responsible for the safety of students during the journey and at the excursion location. The excursion leader may simultaneously be the excursion organizer;

d) Student - a person enrolled in a general education institution in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia;

e) Student's representative - a parent, guardian, or other legal representative;

f) School time - the time of the process defined by the school curriculum, as well as the duration of any event initiated, organized, controlled, and financed by the school.

4. Other terms used in this Rule have the meanings defined by the legislation of Georgia.

 

Article 2. Duties of the Excursion Organizer and Leader

1. The excursion organizer/leader is responsible for the safety of students during the travel process and at the excursion location, for which purpose they shall request and submit to the school director/acting director, no later than 10 days prior to the excursion, a document confirming the roadworthiness of the transport, a copy of the driver's identity document and a driving license of the appropriate category, information about the purpose of the excursion, planned activities, participating persons (including minors), responsible persons, and the date and location of the excursion.
2. The school director/acting director reviews the submitted information/documents and makes a decision regarding the implementation of the excursion within a reasonable timeframe.
3. The excursion organizer is obliged to provide the student, their representative, and other persons participating in the excursion with comprehensive information regarding the date, location, objectives of the planned events, activities, and participating and responsible persons.
4. The excursion organizer must have the written consent of the student's parent regarding the student's participation in the excursion, if the student's representative does not accompany them on the excursion.
5. Among the adults participating in the excursion, there must be at least one capable person who possesses first-aid skills.
6. The excursion leader must have comprehensive data on the participating students and parents, including information regarding the participating student's special needs.

 

Article 3. Rules of Transportation

1. The transportation of students, parents, and teachers to an excursion must be carried out in compliance with the requirements established by legislation, by a physical or legal person using a vehicle that has undergone technical inspection in accordance with the procedure established by legislation.
2. The vehicle must be driven by a driver with appropriate experience and a driving license of the proper category.
3. A first-aid kit must be located inside the vehicle.
4. During the transportation of students, the transportation of food products for their nutrition must be carried out in compliance with sanitary conditions.
5. Transportation for minors with disabilities must be provided taking their needs into account.

 

Article 4. Liability

Violation of the requirements provided for by this Rule shall result in liability in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.