THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed the Principal Secretary (General Education) to issue orders banning vacation classes in all schools, including those affiliated to the CBSE and the ICSE, till Class XII.
The Commission said the order was binding on the schools coming under the General Education Department, Higher Secondary and Vocational Higher Secondary Directorates and the CBSE and the ICSE Boards.
The Panel’s move came in the wake of complaints from various quarters the students were being forced to attend the vacation classes in the sweltering heat.The Commission asked the Principal Secretary (General Education) to issue the guidelines for conducting vacation camps and workshops during the summer break. The guidelines should take into account the duration of the camp, availability of drinking water and toilet facility. The Principal Secretary has also been directed to ensure both the government and the aided schools complied with the guidelines.
The Commission, which underscored the need for children to acquire various skills through informal education during the summer holidays, said the Kendriya Vidyalaya and Navodaya Vidyalaya ensured at least 50 days of vacation for their students.
The Child Rights Panel asked the Principal Secretary to submit a report on banning the vacation classes within 10 days. The report on the action taken on the other recommendations-- the Panel had last year directed the schools to ensure potable water to the students during the vacation classes-- should be submitted within a week, the Commission said, adding,the order was not being properly implemented.