Panel for action on unfit' schools in Kerala

KOZHIKODE: The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) has directed the Public Education Secretary to immediately issue circulars to all the schools to make fitness certificates mandatory for them to continue functioning in the state. The secretary should also submit a report in this regard to the Commission within 40 days, after he makes necessary steps, states the order issues on October 6. The immediate action comes after reports in the media that more than 5,000 schools in the state that lack fitness certificate and functioning without bothering to attain the same.

The Commission suo motu considered the case and sought report from Public Education secretary and DDEs. In the report submitted by Kozhikode DDE Gireesh Cholayil in August, it was mentioned that 1,012 schools in the district lack fitness certificate. Other DDEs are yet to submit their reports, said Commission member Nazeer Chaliyam, who signed the order.

The report also finds that buildings of 16 schools are in dangerous condition. “Fitness certificate is mandatory for all the schools to function. They pose threat to the life of students studying there and district collectors should take immediate measures against them," states the order. The DDEs are also directed to report to the collectors about the schools that have buildings about to collapse and the collector should act immediately in this regard.