School timings cannot be changed for one community: Minister Sivankutty

Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Friday reiterated that school timings cannot be changed to accommodate a particular community as the government has to consider the interests of lakhs of students.

Sivankutty also said that the decision to extend school timings by 30 minutes was taken based on the directions of the Kerala High Court and therefore, anyone aggrieved by the same, can seek legal remedies.

His response comes in the wake of increasing opposition to the change in school timings by some Muslim organisations, including the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama -- a prominent association of Sunni scholars with the largest support base among Kerala Muslims.

The minister further said that such organisations were able to raise protests and criticise the government's decision as the state was ruled by the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

"Can they do this in Uttar Pradesh or Gujarat? They cannot," he said.

He also said that there was no restriction by the government on madrassa education, but made it clear that no concession in school timings would be made for them.

On Thursday, the minister had said that religious organisations should not "unnecessarily interfere" in educational matters.

His reaction had come amidst reports that the Samastha was planning to protest the recent revision in school timings.

According to the minister, the school hours were extended by 15 minutes each in the morning and afternoon, except on Fridays for 16 days a month to meet the mandated instructional time equivalent to 220 teaching days, as required under the national education calendar and state regulations.