Scores of Schools Shun Ground Rules

KOCHI: Though the Kerala Education Rules 1959 requires every school in Kerala to set aside “sufficient clear space” for a playground, large number of schools in the state pay little or no attention to this criterion.

Many of the norms mandated in the Kerala Education Rules are overlooked, including those on playgrounds, said All Kerala School Teachers’ Union general secretary N Sreekumar.

Last year’s plus-two controversy had brought this issue to the fore.

While the Education Ministry sanctioned 700 new plus-two batches and several new schools, an expert committee had found out that not all the schools recommended had adequate resources stipulated to conduct higher secondary education.

For instance, the Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) at Adoor, Pathanamthitta, owned 7.5 acres of land till 1997, with a playground sprawling over an acre.

But today, the school is bereft of a playground. Of the 7.5 acres, 1 acre was acquired for setting up a BEd centre and another 3 acres for a Kendriya Vidyalaya, said Thomas M David, an economics teacher at the GHSS.

Similarly, the Government HSS in Ramapuram, Alappuzha, lost at least a quarter of its 30-cent playground to new buildings.

“In 2005, the Sarva Sikhsha Abhiyan centre was built on a portion of the playground.

“The school, utilising the MLA’s local area development fund, is also planning to build its new block on one part of the playground, which would gobble up a large chunk of the remaining space,” said senior HSA Chandramohan K C.

“A lot of schools are working in dilapidated conditions, when there are clear instructions towards the extent of infrastructure that should be available in a state-recognised school.

Similarly, the specification on the need for playgrounds is also not viewed very seriously,” teachers’ union leader Sreekumar has said.