Kollam: The general education department has decided to withdraw the order restricting the number of items that a student can participate to just five in the Arabic and Sanskrit youth festivals and the general categories of the Kerala school youth festival. The language teachers had protested at the district education offices against restricting the number of items to five. At many places, these protests ended up in altercations with the police.
From yesterday evening, students could register for more than five items in the Arabic and Sanskrit youth festivals in the website. However, the new order regarding the change hasn’t been published yet.
As per the guidelines, a student can compete in three individual items and two group items. Even though Arabic and Sanskrit youth festivals were conducted along with the school youth festival, registrations for these competitions were done separately and a separate overall championship trophy was presented.
The students who participate in five items in these categories were allowed to take part in up to three individual and group items in the general category. A few days ago, the order was issued stating that the Arabic and Sanskrit festivals need not be considered as separate categories and that changes should be made in the software accordingly.
Meanwhile, the teachers protested saying that the decision was taken without proper discussions and that it would quash the Arabic and Sanskrit youth festivals.
M Sreenanda, a student from Thrissur had filed a suit in the High Court saying that she was denied the chance to compete in the general, Arabic and Sanskrit categories in the sub district youth festival as the number of items that a student can participate was reduced. The current decision to repeal the order is also in light of the High Court order that the students should be allowed to participate in the items as previous years.