Thiruvananthapuram: The government has agreed to implement the consolidation of classes that will change the general education structure without affecting schools in Kerala. The question was whether the classes according to the current structure would have to change when the classes 1 to 8 become primary and classes 9 to 12 become secondary. However, government officials clarified that there would be no change in the class structure and only changes would be made in the consolidation according to administrative convenience.

Class 8 is currently part of high school. The question was what would happen to class 8 when classes 9 to 12 become secondary. The class 8 arrangement will be maintained as it is and will be considered as part of the primary section. When the Kerala Education Act came into force, there was a division of classes from 1 to 5 as LP (Lower Primary) and from 6 to 8 as UP (Upper Primary). Even then, these classes were not changed from the current structure.

The reorganisation and appointment of teachers and staff will be done as per the provisions of the class consolidation. The government is preparing to make it possible within this year itself.

Support from ruling side, resistance from opposition

HSSTA General Secretary Anil M George said that the class consolidation will lead to a large number of children dropping out of the Kerala syllabus.

KHSTU Organising Secretary Panakkad Abdul Jaleel responded that the government is aiming to destroy public schools by eliminating teaching posts, and that the class consolidation without an academic perspective has to be legally questioned.

AHSTA President R Arunkumar and General Secretary S Manoj accused the CBSE lobbies of being behind the move. O K Jayakrishnan, General Secretary of the CPI organisation AKSTU, has argued that class consolidation is the solution to many problems in public education.