Sivankutty Defends School Timing Changes, Criticizes Kerala Governor’s ‘Foot Worship’ Stand

Speedy Summary

• Kerala’s Education Minister V. Sivankutty stated the government will continue with the revised school timing schedule despite protests but is open to discussing concerns with stakeholders.
• The discussions aim to clarify the government’s position rather than reverse the decision.
• The revised school timings were adopted based on policies under the Education Act, not religious considerations.
• Samastha leader Sayyid Muhammad Al Jifri contacted the Minister to discuss objections; Mr. Sivankutty suggested potential misinformation may be fueling opposition from Samastha regarding this policy matter.
• Religious and community groups have raised concerns over changed school hours across Kerala.
• the Minister criticized alleged foot worship ceremonies (‘pada puja’) in some schools and denounced Governor Rajendra Arlekar for purportedly endorsing such practices he deemed inappropriate for educational settings.
• Mr. Sivankutty accused the Governor of administrative paralysis in universities.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The government’s stance emphasizes adherence to established policy under the Education Act, signaling its commitment to secular governance in education while engaging stakeholders to address concerns constructively. Clear interaction about these decisions may mitigate resistance rooted in perceived misinformation or religious apprehensions, creating room for dialog between policymakers and community representatives like Samastha leadership.

Criticism of ‘pada puja’ raises meaningful questions about maintaining professional norms within schools while ensuring secular institutional functioning,aligning with broader constitutional values toward separation of religion and state affairs especially within public education systems.

Concerns over administrative inefficiencies linked to Governor Rajendra Arlekar highlight potential governance hurdles between various authorities that could impact higher education stability if unresolved effectively.

Read more: Source Link