Education Minister P.K. Abdu Rabb told the Assembly on Monday that the State government had given no-objection certificates (NOCs) to new Central schools subject to several conditions.
The conditions included minimum of three acres for the campus, 25 per cent reservation in admissions, compulsory teaching of Malayalam, and a commitment on payment of fair wages to the teachers. They would also require continued recognition by the State government. The Minister was replying to the debate on the demand for grants on Education, Sports, Art, and Culture.
Mr. Rabb announced that the salaries at the rates applicable to government schools would be paid to teachers of the area intensive programme aimed at promoting education of children belonging to educationally backward minorities.
The delay in revision of the Kerala Education Rules had not affected the teaching of Arabic. The government had taken a decision on continuation of alternative schools in tribal areas.
He said that the proposed technological university would be headquartered at the College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram. A global education meeting would be organised to learn about new trends.
Minister for Forest, Sports, and Cinema K. B. Ganesh Kumar, who replied to points relating to sports and cinema, said the appointments to the sports quota in government services would be rationalised. The current norms led to persons who had participated in certain items at the National Games getting jobs and medal winners in important items not getting it. The government proposed to concentrate on 10 sports items important to the State in sports development. An enquiry would be ordered into allegations of corruption in the development of a swimming pool at Pirappancode in Thiruvananthapuram.The House later passed the demand for grants totalling Rs.4,272.29 crore.
