Khader Committee advocates return of student politics in schools, emphasises English and Hindi

Thiruvananthapuram: The Khader Committee has recommended the reinstatement of student politics in schools, stressing its significance in the educational process. The committee highlighted that education should prepare students to participate in social activities, noting that a student who completes Class 12 becomes a citizen with voting rights. Social dialogue, it is argued, is essential and should be brought before the close review of judiciary, especially in light of the court order banning student politics.

In 2003, the Department of Public Education issued an order prohibiting student politics. The Khader Committee suggests that student politics should be allowed to promote constructive ideological groups, especially given the rise in drug use, alcoholism, and caste-religion-based discrimination. With the cabinet approving the report in principle, the government is positioned to reintroduce student politics in schools.

Earlier, the Khader committee had proposed reduced class sizes and new school hours in Kerala. 

English and Hindi are the main languages

Upon completing their school education, students should be proficient in English and Hindi. The committee emphasised the importance of Hindi, especially considering the increasing number of guest workers in Kerala. In the 2005–06 academic year, 5.58 lakh students were enrolled in English-medium classes up to the 10th grade. By 2019–20, this number had gone up to 17 lakh.

The committee also stated that Malayalam should remain the medium of instruction, as learning in one's mother tongue is beneficial for personality and capacity development. However, the study of English should be given utmost importance due to its relevance as a referral language.