With the heat subsiding to a tolerable level, the authorities of schools in the district are contemplating whether to resume the summer classes that had been suspended in May.
Most Higher secondary schools and some of the High schools in the district used to conduct classes for students of Std X and XII during May.
The classes were held so that the students of these classes, who have to face public examination at the end of the year will get enough time for revision if the portions are completed earlier.
But an order of the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights against subjecting children to the unbearable heat this summer had led to the suspension of classes in the High schools and Higher secondary schools.
Circular issued
The Department of Public Instruction as well as the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education had followed the order and issued a circular to all schools to suspend the classes. They were warned of strict action if the order was not followed.
Recently, the district experienced a certain amount of rain, as a result of which the heat has considerably subsided. With this the schools authorities have started thinking about recommencing the classes. Some like the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan schools have announced that they would commence classes on May 20.
However, the schools following the State syllabus are in a dilemma about resuming classes.
Some school authorities are apprehensive about it as no instruction has come to this effect from the Department of Public Instruction or the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education. On the other hand, some schools are brave enough to take the risk and have announced that the classes would resume soon.
Child rights panel
As for the Child Rights Commission, it has left the decision to the respective departments. “The departments could take a suitable decision.
The Commission’s intention was only to protect the children from the severe heat”, said K.Nazeer, member of the Commission. Meanwhile, the summer camps and entrance classes that had also been suspended following the Collector’s order have already resumed as the order which was valid till last week-end was not extended further.
