Thiruvananthapuram: Education Minister V Sivankutty on Sunday prohibited schools from conducting entrance examinations for Class 1 admissions. Taking a dig at the profit-driven educational institutions, he warned that strict action would be taken against schools violating the government’s directive.

"Schools will reopen for the new academic year on June 1, but some schools have already started Class 1 admissions. In addition to the admission process, they are also conducting entrance exams for students. Such practices will not be allowed in Kerala. This is cruelty towards children. After the child’s exam, the parent is required to attend an interview. I don’t think this is a practice that should be encouraged," said the minister.

"Currently, we are working to exclude academic lessons from the Class 1 syllabus by removing textbooks and entrance exams. Let our children come to school happily. Let them explore nature and understand our Constitution. Let them learn the values and responsibilities of being a citizen," he added.

Sivankutty also highlighted concerns regarding Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) fees in schools.

"In some countries, there is no syllabus for Class 1. In Kerala, I have observed that PTA fees collected from students are excessively high. While collecting Rs 50 or Rs 100 is acceptable, some schools charge between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000. The education department will take strict action against such practices. Charging exorbitant PTA fees should not be allowed in Kerala," the minister asserted.