Kerala Minister Opposes Religious Intervention in School Hours Debate

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 10 (PTI): Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty has expressed his firm stance against religious organisations intervening in educational policy matters. This statement comes in the wake of reports about the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, a prominent association representing Sunni scholars in Kerala, preparing to protest the government's decision to extend school timings by 30 minutes.

The association, which holds significant influence among Kerala's Muslim population, voiced concerns that the extended school hours could negatively impact madrassa education, affecting nearly 1.2 million students.

When interviewed by a TV channel, Minister Sivankutty articulated that school schedules and examination timings cannot be tailored to suit the needs of specific community segments. "A democratically elected government cannot make provisions exclusively for one group," he asserted.

The minister criticized the demands to roll back the revised school hours, labeling them as "undemocratic" and insinuating they held "intimidation" undertones, ultimately posing a challenge to the government's authority.

"Accepting the demands of every organisation that proposes changes would render the administration of schools highly challenging," Sivankutty cautioned, further emphasizing that religious bodies should refrain from unnecessary interference in educational matters.

He dismissed the necessity for further discussion on this change, underscoring that the decision affects the education of 3 to 3.5 million students. He noted that the additional 15 minutes added to both morning and afternoon sessions had been implemented following judicial directives, suggesting that opponents could seek legal recourse through the courts.

Sivankutty reiterated that the revised timings aim to benefit students by aligning with the national education calendar and state education rules. The extension seeks to ensure schools meet the 220 teaching days required to complete the high school curriculum. The change involves extending school hours by 15 minutes each in the morning and the afternoon, except for Fridays, over 16 days each month. According to the minister, the government has acted appropriately in the interest of fulfilling educational regulations.

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