Govt risks legal complications, more outgo with extension of school working days

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government has likely landed in a spot with its decision to prolong the school academic tenure.

The Kerala Educational Regulations would have to be amended in order to execute the government’s decision to turn the first five days of the next summer vacation into working days.

Without the amendment, the government would be facing legal complications besides additional financial burden. However, there are chances that the amendment may be legally challenged.

The latest proposal is likely to push the annual exams to April. As per the KER, the schools are to be closed for the summer vacation in the months of April and May. It could be changed only in emergency situations. If the first five days of April become working days without amendments in KER, the teachers who work during those days may demand surrender of earned leave.

Besides, there would be problems related to retirement too. Every year, the teachers and other staff retire mostly on 31 March. So, the question is whether their service would be extended up to April 5, the last working day. In case it is extended to April 30, that would create an additional burden on the government.

Classes after exam!
As per the latest academic calendar for 2023-24 students of classes 1 to 9 would have classes even after the annual exams. The exams are scheduled to begin on the first week of March 2024. However, there would be classes until April 5. Usually, the schools close for vacation as soon as the exams are over. But, no one is sure how classes would be conducted after the exam this academic year.

Meanwhile, the Easter in 2024 falls on March 31; and the Good Friday is on 29 March. However, students of classes 1 to 10 may have to attend school until April 5. Meanwhile, the Onam exams are scheduled from August 17 to 24 and the Christmas exams are from December 14 to 21.

The dates of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate exams aren’t announced yet.

The annual exams for the higher secondary classes are from March 6 to 26 next year. Meanwhile, the exams of the Vocational Higher Secondary Education stream begin on March 8, 2024.

Teachers unions annoyed
The teachers’ associations are shocked by the surprise decision to extend the classes to April 5. Only Kerala School Teachers Association, the CPM-backed association, had a hint about the latest suggestion. Meanwhile, Abdul Majeed, the President of the Kerala Pradesh School Teachers' Association, the Congress-backed teachers’ association, alleged that the decision was taken without discussing with the associations and that they wouldn’t agree to this.

OK Jayakrishnan, state general secretary of SKSTU, the CPI-backed association said that the 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.

Saturdays that are working days
The Saturdays that are working days in the 2023-24 academic year are: June 3; July 1, 22 and 29; August 19; September 23 and 30; October 7 and 28; January 6 and 27; and March 16 and 23.

“As per the Right to Education, schools should have at least 210 working days. Even the National Education Policy suggests 220 working days. Last year, classes weren’t conducted even for 180 days. There should be proper number of working days in order to raise the educational quality. There is no need to seek the opinions of the teachers’ associations in all matters. This is a strategic decision taken by the government,” said Education Minister V Sivankutty.