Religious bodies cannot unnecessarily intervene in education sector: Minister Sivankutty

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Thursday stated that religious institutions should not "unnecessarily interfere" in education issues, in the wake of a Sunni scholars' association protesting the shift in school hours.

 

The Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, an organization of prominent Sunni scholars with the maximum base of support from Kerala Muslims, has decided to protest against the government's move to increase school hours by 30 minutes, according to reports.

 

Samastha has complained that the new schedule would disrupt madrassa education of about 12 lakh students.

 

Replying to a question posed by a TV channel regarding the matter, the minister stated that exams or school hours cannot be reserved for a section of society. "It cannot be done by a democratically elected government," he stated.

 

Sivankutty added that he believes that the calls for retraction of the new timings were "undemocratic" and that they had a tone of "intimidation", apart from being a test of the government.

 

"Many other organisations have also made such demands. If we agree to the demands of all such organisations, it would be hard to manage the schools," he added.

 

"Religious groups should not interfere unnecessarily in the education sector. Such interference cannot be tolerated under any circumstances," he further said.

 

The minister also stated that it was not necessary to conduct discussions over the matter as it is a decision that the government needs to make since it involves the education of 30-35 lakh students.

 

Sivankutty also stated that the extra 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon were introduced following court orders and stated that those who are against it should go to the judiciary.

 

The minister had previously also stated that the timings of the state high schools were changed to suit the convenience of students. and the government was not at fault.

 

The school timings have been increased by 15 minutes in both the morning and afternoon shifts, except on Fridays, for 16 days a month to achieve the required hours equivalent to 220 teaching days a requirement for fulfilling the prescribed curriculum of high schools according to the national education calendar and state education regulations, Sivankutty had stated.