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The Faridabad district education office clarified that content related to academic, cultural or awareness activities could still be produced, but only under certain conditions.
The govt clarified that no inappropriate, non-academic or promotional material should be recorded on school premises. (AI Generated Image)
It was earlier claimed that Delhi’s schools had been instructed to stop students and teachers from making reels and short videos on campus. To clear the air, the Delhi government issued a clarification, stating that the order had not come from Delhi at all. The directive had actually been issued by the Haryana Government’s Education Department, specifically through the Faridabad district education office. The clarification emphasised that Delhi had passed no such order.
The Faridabad district education office observed that short videos and reels were increasingly being made on school premises for entertainment. During school hours, some students and even staff were getting involved, recording content in classrooms, corridors and playgrounds. Authorities felt this was beginning to affect academic work, discipline and the dignity of educational institutions.
Two Teachers Found Making Reels
The order followed an incident in which two teachers at a government school were found making mobile phone reels during school hours instead of teaching in their classrooms. A complaint regarding this was lodged with the Additional Chief Secretary of the Directorate of Education. Taking cognisance of the complaint, the Directorate directed the District Education Department to conduct an inquiry. Consequently, the Department summoned both teachers involved, as well as the head of the school.
A complaint letter titled “Complaint against Hindi PGT teacher in Haryana School for making reel and video in School campus in School time” stated that on several occasions girl students are seen participating in these videos by dancing to various songs with teachers on the school premises, which raises concerns and causes distraction and disturbance during school hours.
Complaints against one teacher each from Government Girls Senior Secondary School (NIT No. 1) and Government Model Senior Secondary School (Sarai) reached the Directorate of Education in Panchkula two days ago. Both complaints were filed by the same individual, who attached screenshots of the reels along with the written complaint. Taking immediate cognisance, the Directorate ordered local officials to conduct an inquiry.
The complainant requested an inquiry into why teachers are featuring students in school uniform in these videos on social media for their personal gain. It further stated that, following such an inquiry, all objectionable content posted from private accounts should be removed pursuant to an official Order.
Schools Directed To Ask Schools, Teachers Not To Make Reels
On Wednesday, a circular marked “most urgent” was issued. All schools were asked to ensure that students, teachers and staff did not make reels or short videos during school hours. The order stated that any activity disrupting the teaching-learning process or distracting students must be banned.
The District Education Officer directed all government schools in the district to prohibit the making of reels and short videos on school premises during working hours, citing concerns over discipline, academic disruption and student safety.
District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO) Basant Kumar said it had come to the department’s notice that teachers, staff and students in some schools were creating reels and short videos within campus premises. The order stated that such activities were adversely impacting the academic environment, disrupting classroom learning and affecting the overall decorum of educational institutions.
Officials were also instructed to submit a detailed inquiry report to the Directorate. Preliminary investigations confirmed that the teachers were indeed making reels during class hours. As a result, the school head and the teachers involved were summoned to provide an explanation. Both teachers were formally summoned on Wednesday. It remains unclear what explanation they offered in their defence. Departmental officials said they would be forwarding their report to the Directorate.
A ban has been imposed on students and other school staff on creating any kind of recreational reels or short videos within school premises. Furthermore, teachers are prohibited from engaging in mobile phone conversations while conducting classes. The order also clarifies that if any school wishes to produce videos related to educational, cultural or awareness-raising themes, they must first obtain permission from the Education Department. The creation of such reels will be allowed only under the supervision of an authorised official appointed by the Department. Action will be taken against anyone found violating these orders.
“Complaints regarding the unnecessary use of mobile phones and the creation of reels by teachers in government schools have surfaced before local officials on previous occasions. However, instead of taking strict punitive action, the Department had previously chosen to merely issue warnings to such teachers. The current matter, however, has escalated significantly since the complaints regarding the aforementioned schools reached the departmental Directorate directly. To prevent such incidents from recurring in the future, the Education Department, late on Wednesday evening, issued a letter to the heads of the district’s 378 government primary, secondary, high, and senior secondary schools, imposing a ban on teachers’ unnecessary use of mobile phones in classrooms, as well as on the creation of ‘Reels’ and short videos. Once the investigation is complete, the report will be promptly forwarded to the Directorate,” stated Basant Kumar Hillo, Elementary Education Officer.
March 27, 2026, 09:30 IST
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