Organisations representing higher secondary teachers are up in arms against some of the recommendations of the M.A. Khader committee, including the plan to have a Directorate of Education by merging the Directorates of Public Instruction, Higher Secondary Education and Vocational Higher Secondary Education.
The committee was appointed by the State government to suggest reforms to improve the quality of education from pre-schools to higher secondary schools. Formation of a Kerala Education Service and a pre-schooling policy, are some of the other proposals in its preliminary report.
Federation of Higher Secondary School Teachers’ Association, a joint platform of Kerala Aided Higher Secondary Teachers’ Association (KAHSTA), Congress-affiliated Higher Secondary School Teachers’ Association and Higher Secondary School Teachers’ Association, and Indian Union Muslim League-affiliated Kerala Higher Secondary School Teachers’ Union are planning to stage protests in the coming weeks against the proposals.
According to K. Siju, general secretary, KAHSTA, none of the recommendations are aimed at ensuring the academic growth of students or boosting their interests in non-academic sectors. Though it has been claimed that the merger will facilitate the use of resources available in higher secondary schools for primary and secondary classes, the fact remains that many higher secondary schools do not have enough facilities in science and computer laboratories. The number of students in each class is very high at 70.
“It has to be noted that students in the 15-17 age group are very vibrant and they pass through various emotional and psychological issues. The panel has advised to put them all under one umbrella without suggesting any step to address those concerns,” he pointed out.
Mr. Siju said that in higher secondary classes, students were given specialised education unlike the general education imparted till Class 10. The orientation to be given to students should be different, he said.
Joshy Antony, president of KAHSTA and a functionary of the federation, said that a rally would be taken out to the Secretariat on February 23 to drive home their concerns.