Latest news with #Samastha
New Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Haven't received complaints against revised school timings: Minister Sivankutty
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five days after the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyatul Ulama voiced opposition to the revision of school timings and urged the government to reconsider, General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Sunday said no formal complaints had been received against the revised timings. The Samastha had said extending the school timings would affect the madrasa education of around 12 lakh students. 'I haven't received any complaints, but that doesn't imply any suggestion or criticism is invalid. If a religion or community is facing a problem (due to the move), we are ready for open discussions. We are not forcing anything,' he said in Thiruvananthapuram, and added that the groups concerned can come forward with suggestions. Samastha president Sayyid Muhammed Jifri Muthu Koya Thangal had expressed concerns over the government's decision to extend high school study hours by 15 minutes each in the morning and afternoon sessions. Meanwhile, the minister blamed the Union government for the delay in the distribution of uniforms among BPL students, saying the Centre had not provided adequate funds. He also said the student count in the state will be published within two weeks, as some more evaluations are required. Show-cause notice to teacher for punishing students A show-cause notice has been served on the school teacher who forced female students to do sit-ups as punishment, General Education Minister V Sivankutty said. 'The district education officer has been asked to investigate the incident and submit a report to the deputy director of education,' he said, adding that further action will be taken after considering the teacher's response. The incident took place at Cotton Hill Girls School in Thiruvananthapuram on June 10. When eight Class 9 students insisted on leaving school before the National Anthem ended, the teacher locked the classroom and made them do sit-ups as punishment. 'Such things must not happen, from the side of teachers as well as students,' Sivankutty said, adding that punishing students in such a way and showing disrespect to the National Anthem were not ideal practices. 'We are getting inputs that similar forms of punishments are doled out in several schools. It should be avoided,' he said.
New Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Sivankutty to hold talks with Kerala CM on revised school hours
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after the Samsatha Kerala Jem-Iyyathul Ulama voiced its opposition to the government's move to increase high school class timings by half an hour, General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Thursday said he will hold discussions with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the matter. Maintaining that the government was not stubborn on the issue, Sivankutty said the decision had been taken for the benefit of students. The class hours, he said, were extended by 15 minutes each in the morning and afternoon sessions to ensure 220 instructional days as directed by the court. 'What is the big deal if students get 30 minutes of additional classes,' asked Sivankutty. He said extra-curricular activities also warrant increasing the working hours in schools. The Right to Education Act and state education rules have stipulated minimum instructional days that need to be strictly followed,' he said. Samastha, an association of eminent Sunni scholars, had expressed concern that the revised schedule would affect lakhs of Muslim students attending madrasas.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sunny Joseph meets Samastha's Jifri Thangal in Kozhikode
At a time when campaigning for the byelection to the Nilambur Assembly constituency is gaining momentum, newly appointed Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph visited Syed Mohammed Jifri Muthukoya Thangal, president of the influential Sunni scholars' forum, the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, here on Thursday. The meeting happened at the office of the Samastha in the city. Mr. Joseph later told the media that it was part of his attempts to meet prominent community leaders and political veterans. 'The meeting was cordial, and we discussed political issues as well. His suggestions and advice will help the party,' he added. Mr. Joseph was accompanied by All India Congress Committee secretary Roji M. John, MLA, and K. Praveenkumar, Kozhikode District Congress Committee president. The visit assumes significance against the backdrop of reports that the Samastha leadership is not happy with the support offered by the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind-linked Welfare Party of India (WPI) to Aryadan Shoukath, the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate in the bypoll. The Thangal, however, claimed that the bypoll was not discussed during the meeting. He said that Mr. Joseph had sought suggestions to strengthen the Congress party. 'All the political parties, including the Congress, should go ahead with a secular perspective. That is what I told him,' the Thangal said. Meanwhile, he declined to comment on the WPI's support to the UDF. 'We do not need to comment on that. The respective political fronts will try to get votes to win the elections. We do not politically support anyone. In Nilambur, the fight is between two strong political fronts. We are not the ones to give either a good certificate or a bad certificate to the Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind. Our differences with it are ideological, not political,' he added.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
High school timings revised for benefit of students: Kerala Minister Sivankutty
Kerala General Education Minister V. Sivankutty on Thursday said that the timings of high schools in the State were revised for the benefit of students and there was no fault on the part of the government. The Minister said that under the revised timings, the school hours have only been extended by 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon sessions, except on Fridays, for 16 days a month. 'Then only we will get the required hours equal to 220 teaching days which is a requirement for completing the prescribed curriculum of high schools as per the national education calendar and state education rules,' Mr. Sivankutty said while speaking to reporters here. He was responding to a query by reporters regarding the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama raising concerns about the revised timings at an event on Wednesday where Chief Minister Pinayari Vijayan was present. Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, known as Samastha, is an association of eminent Sunni scholars who enjoy the highest support base among Kerala Muslims and it had expressed concern that the revised schedule would affect madrassa education for around 12 lakh students. Mr. Sivankutty said the government was not going to reject their concerns as it was not opposed to any community's religious beliefs and practices. He said that the government was open to holding discussions with them, but the decision to revise the timings was taken on the basis of court orders and central and state education laws which cannot be ignored. 'Let them give suggestions and we will consider the same. We are not rigid on the issue,' the Minister said. Based on panel report Mr. Sivankutty also said that last year, when he had fixed the teaching days to 209 in the State, there was a lot of opposition to it, following which he had reduced it to 205. 'But some teachers' organisations affiliated with the UDF went to the Kerala High Court, which in turn directed the setting up of a high-power committee to examine the matter. The committee gave its report which has been accepted by the High Court also,' he said. It was based on the panel's report that the timings were revised, the Minister added.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala open to revising new school timings after Samastha flags impact on 12 lakh madrassa students
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Left government in Kerala on Wednesday said it is open to discussion if any group faces difficulties following the announcement of new school timings for high schools in the state. The move comes after Muslim scholar and president of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, Jifri Muthukoya Thangal, expressed concern that the revised schedule would affect madrassa education for around 12 lakh students. Thangal raised the issue at a function attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan . Samastha Kerala Jamiyyatthul ul-Ulama, known as Samastha, is an association of eminent Sunni scholars who enjoy the highest support base among Kerala Muslims. General Education Minister V Sivankutty, responding to the concerns, said the government is ready to listen and consider changes if needed. The revised timings, announced earlier in the day, extend the school day by 15 minutes in both the morning and evening sessions, except on Fridays. Under the new schedule, high school classes will run from 9.15 am to 4.15 pm. Talking to a news channel, Sivankutty said the government is under no compulsion on this matter. He said this was not framed by the Education Department on the basis of a government decision, but follows a court directive and a commission's decision. "Still, if any section faces difficulties due to the new timings, the government will hold discussions with them and put in place a system that does not cause difficulties to anyone," Sivankutty said. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
