Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government may have a rethink on the new academic calendar as the powerful teachers unions have not taken kindly to it. A key meeting is scheduled today afternoon at Education Minister V Sivankutty’s office.
The Department of General Education has convened the meeting of the teachers’ associations at 2 pm.
The government may be willing for a compromise as all the associations, irrespective of the political leanings, oppose the latest revisions. Changes would be made in the academic calendar based on this.
“The government doesn’t wish to create discord in the educational sector. Final decision would be taken after discussing with the teachers’ associations,” said Minister V Sivankutty.
The teachers’ unions are reportedly annoyed by the surprise decision to extend the classes till April 5, apart from making a few Saturdays working days, in a bid to increase the number of working days in schools.
The reprentatives at the meeting including the ones that are part of the supervising committee of the Quality Improvement Program (QIP) which had proposed the changes in school working days. Interestingly, most of the associations that are part of the committee are affiliated to the ruling party, the CPM.
The associations are especially miffed that the government had turned the first five days of summer holidays into working days, without discussing with them. The government is likely to reconsider this issue as it may give rise to legal and administrative problems.
Earlier Abdul Majeed, the President of the Kerala Pradesh School Teachers' Association, the Congress-backed teachers’ association, had alleged that the decision to increase the working days was taken without discussing with the associations and that they wouldn’t agree to this.
OK Jayakrishnan, the state general secretary of Kerala School Teachers Union (KSTU), the CPI-backed association, had said that the Kerala Educational Regulations (KER) clearly states about the duration of the summer vacation. He added that the government could take a decision only by considering those regulations and other existing court orders.
Secretariat march
The Kerala School Teachers’ Association, the CPM-backed union, has organised a secretariat march on June 20 to express their displeasure.
The National Teachers Union has also announced protest sessions at sub-district centres at 3.30 pm on June 8.
The KPTA, which is affiliated to Congress (S), too has criticised the government’s decision.
Why are the associations unhappy?
Teachers point out that extra-curricular activities organised by the National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme and Students Police Cadets (SPC) would be jeopardised if Saturdays are working days.
Besides, activities of the Little Kites Club as well as Abacus sessions, special remedial classes and English training sessions too are often held on Saturdays.
Teachers say that students would be reluctant to attend these programs if they are shifted to Sundays.
The number of working days has been increased in line with the instructional time stipulated in the National Education Policy (NEP).