Kerala High Court stays implementation of state’s education policy

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday stayed for two months further proceedings in the government order to implement the Khader committee recommendations for integration of high school, higher secondary and vocational higher secondary segments.

A single bench issued the interim order based on the petitions filed by the Nair Service Society and the Aided Higher Secondary School Tea-chers Association. The petitioners argued that the integration from June 6 will adversely affect the education sector.

They also argued that it was against the National Education Policy and it violated the rights of the teachers working in the higher secondary section.

The state government submitted that it was aiming at unification of schools for smooth administration and not any merger. In the present school system where there are more than one head for the schools, the government was finding it difficult to implement its projects, said general education deputy secretary Aji Philip in the submission.

However, the court averred that the state government had decided to implement the report without considering the Right to Education Act. The implementation of the recommendations was attempted without amending the Kerala Education Rules (KER) as well and without considering the central government’s Higher Education Policy.

The court while granting the stay also allowed the parties in the case, including the state government, more time to submit any other detailed explanations or versions. Consequent to the stay, the IAS officer appointed in the joint secretary rank as Director-General of Education by the government for one year as part of implementing the recommendation will not be able to discharge his duties. There is infirmity as well over his appointment in the light of the order. It is learnt that the government has decided to approach the court again after getting clarity on the order.