Child rights panel member visits Malaparamba school

It was found that the manager had misinformed the authorities about the availability of convenient alternative schools in the neighbouring area.

Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights member K. Nazeer on Thursday conducted a fact-finding inspection of the Aided Upper Primary School, Malaparamba, where two of its buildings were allegedly demolished by its manager two weeks ago.

Talking to The Hindu , Mr. Nazeer said it was found during the inspection that the permission to close down the school was given to the manager by the authorities without making a proper inquiry based on chapter 5/ Rule 24 of the Kerala Education Rule (KER).

It was found that the manager had misinformed the authorities about the availability of convenient alternative schools in the neighbouring area when the Malaparamba school was sought to be closed down for the road widening purpose, said Mr. Nazeer.

“The authorities blindly accepted the then Deputy Director of Education (DDE)’s report allowing closure of the school despite the fact that the Director of Public Instruction (DPI) had earlier rejected the manager’s application for certain valid reasons,” he said.

Not true

The commission member, who observed certain ‘misrepresentation’ in the ‘explanations’ given by the manager for closing down the school, said that the manager’s reason that the school would have to go as part of the Vellimadukunnu-Mananchira Road widening was not fully true. “Only part of a building would have to be pulled down for the road widening,” he said.

According to him the division bench of the commission comprising its chairperson Neela Gangadharan and him will make a sitting on April 28 for further deliberations on the issue.

“The commission’s recommendation will be submitted to the government after the sitting,” said Mr. Nazeer.

DYFI move

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has decided to actively participate in the reconstruction initiative of the demolished school at Malaparamba.

The Town Block committee of the DYFI has decided to contribute facilities including modern bench, desk and other classroom requirements for the school after collecting a substantial sum from its workers as well as from the public, said a press release issued here by K.V. Pramod, block committee secretary of DYFI.