Kannur, Kerala: The state should be prepared for an active discussion on changing school timings, Speaker A.N. Shamseer said on Tuesday. Speaking at the inauguration of a new auditorium at a government school in Kadirur panchayat, he stressed the need to adapt with changing times and urged religious scholars to reconsider rigid positions.

His remarks come against the backdrop of opposition from Islamic bodies to the state government’s decision to extend school hours in institutions following the state syllabus.

Shamseer clarified that the ruling CPM is not against religious education or rituals but stressed the importance of modernising school hours. He proposed starting classes at 8 am, ending by 1 pm, and leaving afternoons free for play or religious studies. “The theory of 10 am to 4 pm must change. Religious scholars must be ready to rethink instead of insisting on the 10 o’clock model,” he said.

Reference to past criticism

The Speaker recalled that his earlier comments on Islamic prayer calls had faced severe criticism, with opponents attempting to brand him as anti-religious. However, he pointed out that Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) general secretary AP Abdul Hakeem Azhari had recently echoed similar views on the need for moderation.

Azhari had stated that excessive noise during Islamic calls to prayer should be avoided. He stressed that sound, whether for dhikr or azan, should remain moderate and audible only to the required extent, citing the words of the Prophet.