Opposition to the Directorate of Higher Education’s circular on teacher and non-teaching staff appointments in aided higher secondary schools (HSSs) is snowballing into a crisis with the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) and various school managements coming out against it and various Left organisations coming out in its support.
The circular, due for review by Education Minister P.K. Abdu Rabb here on Tuesday, has come in for the strongest attack from the KCBC, which has termed it ‘anti-minority’ and ‘unconstitutional.’ Stephen Alathara, spokesperson for the KCBC, has gone on record that the KCBC has already communicated its objection to the circular to the government. If the government goes ahead with the circular, the KCBC would consider taking legal options against it, he has said.
The Kerala Aided Higher Secondary School Managers’ Association too has come out against the circular. Association leaders have said that the circular would complicate appointments to teaching and non-teaching posts.
The Nair Service Society (NSS) had come out against the circular at the very outset, prompting Mr. Rabb to say that he would look into the matter on Tuesday.
Although these managements and community organisations have come out against it, pro-Left organisations have fully endorsed it on the plea that it is a step in the right direction to curb corruption in teacher and non-teaching staff appointments in aided higher secondary schools. The Students Federation of India State leadership has announced marches to the Secretariat and district centres on Tuesday against withdrawal of the circular.
Although faced with loud objections, Director of Higher Secondary Education Kesavendra Kumar is understood to have stood his ground and explained to higher-ups in the department that he had only codified the rules and regulations that were already in existence.
