The Malapparamba AUP School resembled an army barrack waiting for an impending war on Tuesday. While classes went on as usual, the school protection committee barricaded the gates waiting for the Assistant Education Officer, who was supposed to close the school down.
With students’ and youth organisations joining the protest, the situation was rather tense through out the day.
With the Supreme Court having rejected the State government’s petition against the Kerala High Court order to close the school down on Monday, AEO K.S. Kusumam is supposed to close down the school and submit a report to the High Court on Wednesday.
But the government machinery is in a damage control mode. The Education Minister, local MLA, and the government are trying to keep the school open.
On Tuesday, the AEO did not try to close the school down as the Director of Public Instruction did not issue an order to the same on the grounds that classes were going on and that a forced closure in the presence of children would lead to complications.
Demand for takeover
The School Protection Committee has completed 62 days of protest demanding that the school be taken over by the government. The committee is pinning its hopes on the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
The District Collector has submitted a report on financial liabilities if the government decides to take over the school. The committee will not call off the protest unless the government issues an order to take over the school.
The Kozhikode Municipal Corporation has expressed its helplessness in supporting the school as it is not under the corporation’s authority.
