Higher secondary schools will be set up in panchayats which do not have the facility in a phased manner, Minister for Education and Culture M.A.Baby has said.
Replying to questions in the Assembly on Monday, Mr.Baby said that the government was aware that there certain panchayats in the southern district had no Plus-Two schools. The government will take steps to start schools in such panchayats in a phased manner. Already the facility has been provided in schools in the northern district.
The Centre has given the clearance for upgrading 37 government upper primary schools into high schools in the current financial year. The government is actively considering the recommendations of the Lida Jacob Commission for fixing the student-teacher ratio in classes from I to IV at 1:30 and from VI to VIII standards at 1:35. The Central Act on right to education will be implemented only after evolving a consensus among political parties and other stakeholders. It cannot be forcefully implemented in the State, he said.
The government has submitted a 769-page report to the Centre seeking to accord classical status to Malayalam. With the budgetary allocation of Rs.10 crore, if needed, the government will set up a Malayalam university in the State. The government has appointed an expert committee to submit recommendations for promoting Malayalam. Necessary steps will be taken on the basis of the recommendations.
Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that 614 persons have been detained in preventive custody as per the provisions of the Kerala Anti-social Activities Prevention Act. As many as 63 persons more have to be arrested. The CBI was probing 23 cases in the State. Inquiry on 11 cases has been completed. While 12 custody deaths were reported during the tenure of the government, 183 persons died in judicial custody. As many as 54 clashes were reported from the jails during the period.
