KOZHIKODE: Come March 31, a unique post in the state’s Department of Education will cease to exist - that of a ‘Thiruvathira’ teacher. Reba Krishna, a Thiruvathira teacher at the Government Achuthan Girls Higher Secondary School, Chalappuram, will retire from service on March 31.
Appointed by the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC), she was the first person to secure a permanent job as Thiruvathira teacher. With the government not making new appointments to the post of specialised teachers in schools, Reeba is reportedly the only permanent employee to hold such a post.
Reba took charge as the Thiruvathira teacher on a one-year contract at the school in 1989. When the government took over the school that was started by Appu Nedungadi, the author of the first Malayalam novel in 1890, to teach the children in the Kovilakams, the post was retained. She later assumed charge as the first regular teacher when the post was regularised by the government in 1990.
Reba, who is a diploma holder in Mohiniyattom and Bharatanatyam from the Kerala Kalamandalam, says, “I came to know about the post in the school when the KPSC invited applications for it in 1989 and after applying for it I got into the school as a temporary teacher. Later, I received the KPSC appointment.”
“The post of such a teacher in the school provided an opportunity to the majority of the students hailing from economically backward families, especially those from the Kalluthankadavu colony, to learn at least the basics of dance. Moreover, with the training received from the teacher, they were also able to take part in the school arts festival, which otherwise would not have happened,” says Jatheesh K, Social Science teacher at the school. The Thiruvathira course at the school was a part-time one till 2010, when the teacher had to come only thrice a week. After making it a full-time course, one period each for high school classes and two for upper primary classes per week were introduced.
“The Thiruvathira period in between the academic subjects was a relaxation for the students. Dancing in the middle of the school hours boosted their energy levels and they were more attentive in the classes following it,” she says. Meanwhile, the students of Achuthan Girls Higher Secondary School are a worried lot with the imminent retirement of the teacher. “The Thiruvathira hours at the school were quite interesting. And with Reba teacher stepping out of the school, we are not sure of participating in any programmes in the coming year. She was the one who trained and accompanied us to all programmes and we will surely miss her,” says Anupama S and Nayana K, students of the school. While retiring from the school after a service of 27 years, Reba says, “I cannot simply sit at home and will be coming to school at least at the time of the school arts festivals. I wish the government retains the Thiruvathira course and introduce similar courses at the school as it would help the students who are interested in the art forms. Children, these days, are showing more interest in these art forms.”