Kerala announces longer class hours, working Saturdays for high schools
Addressing the concerns, Sivankutty pointed out that several other states, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh already operate on more extended school calendars. He also highlighted that Central Board schools like CBSE and ICSE within Kerala have longer academic hours than the state-run schools.Sivankutty accused opposition-backed teacher unions of politicising the issue. He recalled that during the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) regime, class hours were extended until 4:30 pm based on the Labba Committee's recommendations, without any significant backlash. 'No one protested then—so we must ask what's really behind the resistance now,' he said.The minister reaffirmed the government's openness to dialogue. If there are genuine concerns, we are willing to sit down and discuss them. Any change in education laws must go through the Legislative Assembly—not through court interventions or public outcry,' he added.The updated academic year will consist of 198 working days for Classes 1 to 4, 200 days for Classes 5 to 7, and 204 for Classes 8 to 10. In addition to academics, the calendar incorporates awareness campaigns, cultural events, scholarships, and support for differently-abled students to promote a holistic and inclusive education system.Despite the controversies, the state government remains firm on its goal to uphold instructional quality while complying with legal mandates.(With PTI inputs)- Ends
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