Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Education (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to give legal validity for changing the name of the Education Department to General Education Department, has been sent for the consideration of the Subject Committee. The bill seeks to replace an Ordinance that was promulgated for giving legal validity to the proposals of the Khader Committee.
The Director of Public Instructions will be changed to Education Director-General as per another provision of the bill. The headmistress and vice-principal have been brought on par with the post of Headmaster.
As per the provision of the bill, there will be only one head for each institution.
T Siddique, MLA, came out against the provision to club higher secondary and secondary categories. He said on the one hand the CPM claims that it is opposing the central government’s education policy and on the other, it is implementing the same policy by taking forward the recommendations of the Khader Committee.
The provisions of the bill were earlier implemented through an Ordinance and a subsequent Government Order as per the Khader Committee recommendations of 2019.
Other bills
The bills containing the provisions for raising the income sources of four welfare funds were also sent to the Subject Committee. Kerala Cashew Workers Welfare Fund (Amendment) Bill, Agricultural Workers (Amendment) Bill, Kerala Labour Welfare Fund (Amendment) Bill and Tailors Welfare Fund (Amendment) Bill were also sent to the Subject Committee.
The monthly contribution of workers in the Agricultural Workers Welfare Fund will be raised from Rs 5 per month to Rs 20 per month.
The daily contribution of Rs 1 each from the cashew factory workers and owners will be increased to Rs 2. As per the Amendment Bill, the tailoring workers have to contribute Rs 50 per month.
Minister V Sivankutty presented the amendment bills in the Assembly.
Subject Committees of Parliament and Legislatures aim to ensure good governance by considering a subject before the Executive for a detailed study.