Kerala: Councillor to fight for Palat AUP School

KOZHIKODE: Palat AUP School, in Meenchanda may also face the same fate of Malapramba AUP School as the owner is allegedly planning to shut down the school. Though the public and people's representatives are fighting against the closure, the owner is going ahead with it, says Meenchanda ward councillor Nambidi Narayanan.

“Around six years back, the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation expressed willing to acquire the office. The present owner of the school purchased it from the previous management with a promise that it will not be used other than for educational activities.

“He is a real estate businessman and he tried to demolish the school with the help of the police but it was postponed after a public protest. This year too, there were rumours that he would come for the closure armed with a court order on March 31 but it did not happen,” he said.

The school is not economical with three divisions, four teachers and a few students. “We are waiting for the next government to come to get clarity on the fate of the School,” the councillor added.

Kozhikode Municipal Corporation Education Standing Committee Chairman M Radhakrishnan Master said that the Corporation would give all possible help after examining the legal aspects in the issue.

“After the RTE act came, the state government has no control over aided schools. Many schools are being closed by managers using this loophole. Here Corporation cannot acquire the School citing educational needs because according to the Municipal Act, only institutions given by the government can be taken over by civic bodies,” he said. He added that six such schools in the state were closing citing similar conditions.