Higher secondary schools in the State will have a five-day week from July 1.
Education Minister P. K. Abdu Rabb told the Assembly on Tuesday that the government had decided to implement the recommendation of the P. O. J. Labba Committee to limit the number of working days for higher secondary schools to five. He was replying to a submission by V. P. Sajeendran.
He said it was decided to go ahead with the proposal after a committee set up for the purpose reported on the feasibility of implementing it without affecting the academic schedule.
Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said the dates for the 35 National Games to be held in Kerala would be announced by the Indian Olympic Association at a high-level meeting here on July 26. Replying to a submission by K. Sivadasan Nair, he said arrangements for the Games were in the final stage.
“The work on the venues for 34 events and two exhibition events is progressing in nine districts. More than 80 per cent of the work is over and the camps for selection of the Kerala teams will commence soon”. Mr. Radhakrishnan said the Indian Olympic Association would be asked to consider softball as a new event in the next Games.
The Minister, who also handles the Transport portfolio, said surveillance cameras were being installed on more routes to detect speeding of vehicles and violation of road rules.
Minster for Planning, Rural Development and NoRKA K.C. Joseph said the government had sought the inclusion of agriculture, animal husbandry and traditional industries in the works taken up under the employment guarantee programme in Kerala.
Iraq crisisAssuring the House that the government was keeping a close tab on the situation in Iraq, Mr. Joseph said no effort would be spared to bring back Malayalis stranded in the strife-torn country. “Many of the Malayalis are not willing to return immediately, either because of the labour bond with their employers or the precarious financial situation back home. We are trying to arrange for the safe return of those willing”.
