KOCHI: The Kerala High Court order staying the state government ban on conducting classes for standard IX-XII in CBSE schools during summer vacation has been welcomed by almost all the schools in the city. In the coming days, the managements of many schools in the city will be deliberating the technicalities involved in conducting vacation classes.
The High Court had on Monday issued the order on 53 petitions filed by CBSE schools challenging the Director of Public Instructions' circular banning vacation classes based on the order of the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
However, not all schools can conduct the classes. According to CBSE Management Association president T P M Ibrahim Khan, only 53 schools which had approached the HC can start the class by following the procedures stipulated in the order. "If the other schools want to conduct classes, they too will have to approach the court," he said, adding another four to five schools filed a petition in this regard before the court on Tuesday.
The court, in its order, had observed merely for the reason that the CBSE schools have been established on the strength of a NOC/sanction granted by the state government, it cannot be said such schools are covered by the provisions under the Kerala Education Rules. The order further stated that the schools need to submit a proper application before the Regional Director seeking permission to conduct classes, specifying the dates on which the classes are to be conducted, within one week from the date of the order.
When Express spoke to some schools in the city on the matter, it got a mixed response.
According to Jaya Sabin, principal of Greets Public School, as of now, no decision has been taken regarding the conduct of vacation classes. "We had not approached the High Court. So, we will have to first file a petition before the court if we want to conduct classes. Discussions are going on and we are hopeful of starting classes by May 16. If classes are conducted, it will be for a period of 20 days. But, everything hinges on the management's decision," she said.
According to Jaya Sabin, there was no reason for the DPI to impose a ban on vacation classes in CBSE schools. "Every school is well equipped and has all the infrastructural facilities stipulated by the government. Be it fans, potable water or classrooms, CBSE schools have them all. We have air-conditioned classrooms in our school," she said.
Meanwhile, an official at Rajagiri Public School said they will begin vacation classes from May 7.
However, several schools in the city will not be conducting classes during the vacations. According to Naipunya School authorities, no classes have been planned and the school will remain closed for vacation.