Latest news with #KeralaEducationAct
News18
3 days ago
- News18
Kerala Govt to Take Over Administration Of Aided School After Student's Electrocution
Last Updated: Mithun, a student of Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam district, died last week after coming into contact with a live electric wire on the school premises. General Education Minister V Sivankutty announced on Saturday that the Kerala government will take over the administration of an aided school where a 13-year-old student was recently electrocuted. The school's manager will also be dismissed from service due to the incident, reported PTI. Mithun, a student of Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam district, died last week after coming into contact with a live electric wire on the school premises. Speaking to reporters, Sivankutty said the Director of Public Instruction (DPI) reported 'serious lapses" that led to the student's accidental death. 'In this context, the DPI will issue an order dismissing the manager of Thevalakkara Boys High School and handing over the administration to the district education officer in Kollam," the minister said. Referring to the provisions of the Kerala Education Act, he noted that if 'any lapse is found on the part of the manager of an aided school, the government has the authority to take over the institution for a specific period in the public interest." Sivankutty remarked that the untimely death of the class 8 student had caused 'widespread sorrow," and the government was taking measures to prevent such incidents in the future. 'Despite the authorities convening several meetings to ensure school safety, this incident still occurred," he said. In response to growing concerns, the Department of General Education has started taking extra measures to ensure school safety. The minister mentioned that PTA members, teachers, students, and the public are encouraged to report safety concerns. A high-level review meeting on ongoing safety measures is scheduled for July 31. As part of the support for Mithun's family, the Scouts and Guides under the General Education Department will build a house for them. An amount of Rs 3 lakh will be provided from the DPI's account. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has already granted Rs 5 lakh as financial relief. The school management has also announced a Rs 10 lakh grant as assistance. Additionally, the Kerala School Teachers' Association (KSTA) has pledged Rs 10 lakh for the family, according to the minister. view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 17:26 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Kerala student's electrocution: Thevalakkara school manager dismissed
The government has dismissed the manager of Thevalakkara Boys High School, in Kollam district and entrusted the District Education Officer (DEO) with the school's administration. A Class VIII student had died owing to electrocution from an overhead power line inside the school on July 17, 2025. Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty told mediapersons in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday (July 26, 2025) that a report of Director of General Education (DGE) Shanavas S. had found grave dereliction of duty on the part of the manager R. Thulasidharan Pillai. Electrocution of school student: Kerala government orders inquiry Earlier, the school headmistress Suja S. had been suspended from service after the Kollam Assistant Education Officer (AEO) visited the school and found lapses on her part in ensuring safety of the students. Mr. Sivankutty said the government could take over the school's management as per Section 14 of the Kerala Education Act, 1958, if it appeared that the manager had neglected to perform his duties. The school management, particularly the manager, had failed to ensure student safety as part of school reopening arrangements. The death of Midhun from electrocution was prima facie the result of lapses on the part of the manager in discharging his responsibilities as per Kerala Education Rules (KER) Chapter III Section 9. Accordingly, the manager had been issued a show-cause notice by the Kollam AEO as per KER Chapter III Section 7. His reply stated that there had been no deliberate lapses on his part in ensuring students' safety and that he had tried to discharge his duties properly. However, the manager's reply was found to be unsatisfactory and he was deemed unfit to hold the post of manager of Thevalakkara boys and girls high school. 'The Kollam DEO would act as the manager for the smooth administration of the school till a new appointment was made,' Mr. Sivankutty said.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Can't demand equivalency certificates for UGC-approved courses, says Kerala HC
Kochi: High court has observed that requiring equivalency certificates from state universities for courses approved by UGC and offered by central universities would mark the end of the education system. Justice D K Singh was considering a petition by S Harisankar of Malappuram, challenging the decision of LBS Centre for Science and Technology — the agency responsible for conducting the State Eligibility Test (SET) for promotion to the post of higher secondary school teacher. Although the petitioner had passed the SET, the LBS Centre declined to issue his certificate of qualification, citing his failure to produce an equivalency certificate for his master's degree obtained from IGNOU . LBS Centre counsel and govt pleader argued that, in view of the special rules framed under the Kerala Education Act, 1958, an equivalency certificate is mandatory. They also referred to the SET prospectus, which contains a similar clause. However, the single bench observed that IGNOU is a central university of national importance established by the central govt to offer distance education and regular courses. It is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and its courses are UGC-approved. HC held that no insistence on equivalency certificates can be made in respect of degrees obtained from national institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Science (IISc), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) or other institutions recognized by the UGC. Accordingly, the court directed the LBS Centre to issue the SET qualification certificate for July 2021 to the petitioner.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Permission of govt. required before alienating property of aided schools: HC
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court has observed that before the property of an aided school is alienated, permission shall be obtained from the State government or any officer authorised by it in this regard. The Bench made the observation while allowing an appeal by some teachers of a lower primary school in Manjeri against a single judge's order quashing the government order declining approval of a teacher nominated as manager by the person who purchased the school. The government had rejected approval on the ground that the owner of the property could only be made manager and a third party could not be appointed as the manager. The appellant contended that as owner N. Sidrathul Munthaha had not obtained any previous permission before obtaining title, the entire transaction is void under section 6(3) of the Kerala Education Act. The Bench observed that before an aided school's property is alienated, it is the mandate of the law that permission shall be obtained from the government or any officer authorised by the government in this regard, and such permission cannot be obtained merely by invoking Rule 5A of Chapter III of the Kerala Education Rules (KER), which is only a procedural rule enabling the recording of a change in ownership. The objective behind Section 6 of the Act is to ensure that the property belonging to an aided school is not alienated indiscriminately, jeopardizing the future of the students. The Bench also directed the government to reconsider the matter afresh under Section 6 of the Act as well as under Rule 5A of Chapter III of the KER.
