Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty has firmly defended the state’s revised academic calendar that extends school hours by 30 minutes daily and adds six working Saturdays for students in Classes 8–10. The changes aim to meet High Court-mandated 1,100 instructional hours and 204 working days per year, aligning Kerala with national education standards.
The decision has sparked backlash, especially from Muslim organizations like Samastha Kerala Jam-iyyathul Ulama, who argue the new schedule disrupts madrassa routines. In response, Sivankutty stressed that school timings cannot be tailored for any single community, pointing out that several other states — including Gujarat, Delhi, and Karnataka — follow longer academic calendars, and even CBSE and ICSE schools in Kerala already operate on similar schedules.
Despite the firm stance, Sivankutty signaled a willingness to hold discussions with concerned groups, including Samastha. Their president welcomed the invitation, saying protests would be reconsidered based on the outcome of talks.
Under the new calendar:
- Classes 8–10: Extended by 15 minutes in both morning and afternoon + 6 working Saturdays = 204 days
- Classes 5–7: 200 days, Classes 1–4: 198 days
The reform is also designed to integrate cultural programs, awareness campaigns, scholarships, and inclusive education efforts into the curriculum. Sivankutty cautioned against politicizing the move, noting that similar extensions were introduced under the previous UDF government without controversy, and called for dialogue over demonstrations.
