Kerala to take decision on extending school hours within two days: Report

NEW DELHI: The Kerala government will take a decision on extending school hours to normal timings within two days, Mathrubhumi reported.

Kerala education minister V Sivankutty, in a high-level meeting, had decided to restore the usual school hours from the second week of December, the report said.

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The chief minister will take the final decision after holding discussions with the COVID-19 expert panel, it said.

Recently, the education minister said the Kerala government cannot encourage the attitude of some unvaccinated teaching and non-teaching staff coming to schools, as per a PTI report. He said such the matter will be brought to the attention of the committee, which handles the COVID-19 protocol as it is a matter of safety of the children.

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"We are not forcing them (staff), but have asked them to stay at home. In the guidelines issued just before the reopening of schools, we have made it very clear that all teaching and non-teaching staff must be inoculated," Sivankutty told PTI. Some teachers have been going to schools in the state without taking the vaccine doses, despite instructions from the authorities.

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"The state government and the education department cannot in any manner support their decision not to take vaccines. A majority of teachers are in support of the vaccination and have followed the procedure. This is a matter of safety of our children and our state," Sivankutty added. He noted that around 5,000 teaching and non-teaching staff have not been vaccinated yet.

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The schools in the state were reopened on November 1 after being shut for more than a one-and-a-half years due to COVID pandemic. The Minister said those who cannot take the vaccine due to health issues must notify the concerned authorities. He also urged the public to stand with the state government to ensure the safety of the society.