Anti-ragging cells being considered in all Kerala schools: Education Minister V Sivankutty

Kozhikode: In a move aimed at tightening control over ragging, the government is planning to establish anti-ragging cells in all educational institutions, said Education Minister V. Sivankutty. He added that the government is contemplating the formation of a high-level committee to examine the issue and submit a report on it.

Despite complaints about ragging, some unaided and aided schools have not taken any steps to address the matter.

The government has warned that appropriate action will be taken against any school where negligence is found. Sivankutty also mentioned that some headmasters are turning a blind eye to the issue, which is unacceptable.

In a bid to improve the academic standards in schools, the minister announced a comprehensive quality improvement plan. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate a state-level workshop in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday as part of the initiative. The project will run from class 1 to 10, and ‘subject minimum’ will be implemented from class 8. Under this new plan, even if a student fails in one subject, they will not be demoted. Students who fall short on marks will be provided with an orientation class after taking the necessary time to pass.

Sivankutty also addressed the issue of admission schedules, stating that the practice of beginning admissions to class 11 before the SSLC exams are held cannot continue. The government will introduce a timetable and circular for admissions in unaided schools to ensure uniformity. It has also come to light that some schools are appointing teachers who are not adequately qualified, and there have been complaints about unpaid salaries. The government will issue notices to verify that schools are adhering to the required norms.