Thiruvananthapuram: The revised working hours for high schools, extended by half an hour, will come into effect from next week. The Department of General Education has issued a circular to reorganise the timetable accordingly. Minister V Sivankutty stated in a press conference that academic activities will continue as per the education calendar.

The State is also considering approaching the Union Minister once again regarding the withholding of SSF (Samagra Shiksha Fund) due to the non-implementation of the PM SHRI scheme. An academic master plan will be prepared for this year’s school reopening celebrations, incorporating the suggestions made by the Chief Minister. A meeting will be held on the 21st of this month with stakeholders from various sectors to finalise the draft.

Meanwhile, show-cause notices have been issued to Deputy Directors of Education (DDEs) who failed to act on cases registered under the POCSO Act. The Minister also announced that anti-drug awareness programmes will be conducted on June 26.