Apart from throwing up new talents, there is one other constant about every school youth fest at every level—appeals against judgments.
The Ernakulam revenue district school arts fest, which concluded on Friday, did not buck the trend either as the appeals committee was left to dispose of as many as 134 appeals.
“The appeals will be disposed of by next week well in advance before the State youth festival,” K.S. Kusumam, Deputy Director of Education, Ernakulam, told The Hindu.
Vrindavadyam contest, one of the last events to be held on the concluding day, ended on a rather chaotic note as the school authorities of the respective teams and parents of participants were left fuming about what they alleged as the “unfair manner of judgment”. Out of the nine participating teams, only the winning team was given A grade. The next three teams were all given B grade, while another team was graded C, and four teams were not graded at all.
“We have a feeling that the result was fixed. Our team had performed well and deserved at least A grade, if not the top prize. We have submitted a written complaint to the Deputy Director of Education and filed an appeal. It is for the parents of participants to decide whether to file a separate complaint,” said Sarath Kumar, principal, St. Jude’s EMHSS, Karanakkodam.
Manoj Kumar, parent of a student who was part of the team graded B, said while he was perfectly fine with the first prize going to the team adjudged winner, it was the manner in which the rest of the teams were judged that saddened him. “The fact that none other than the winner was given A grade, thus denying them the right to go on appeal gives the impression of some foul play. Besides, the judges didn’t even show the courtesy to spell out the reasons for their judgment,” said Mr. Kumar, who is determined to file a complaint as a parent.
B. Madhusoodhanan, music teacher at SNMHS, Moothakunnam, which ended up with the second prize and B grade, was also agitated about the verdict.
Ms. Kusumam admitted there was heartburn about the verdict, and that a few teams had lodged appeals irrespective of B grade awarded to them.