The Kerala government has confirmed it will continue with the revised school timings for the 2025–26 academic year, rejecting growing demands from religious and community organizations to roll back the changes. General Education Minister V. Sivankutty stated that the new schedule—starting classes for grades 8 to 10 at 9:45 AM and ending at 4:15 PM—is in accordance with Kerala High Court directives and based on expert committee recommendations. The revised schedule also includes six working Saturdays to ensure compliance with the Right to Education Act’s requirement of 1,100 instructional hours annually.
Despite protests from groups like Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and the AP Sunni faction—who argue the new timings interfere with Madrassa sessions—the government has refused to make accommodations for religious routines. Minister Sivankutty reiterated that education policy cannot be tailored to any specific religious needs and invited those opposing the changes to pursue legal recourse if dissatisfied.
Meetings with various school management bodies were held on July 23, during which the minister clarified the government’s stance while expressing willingness to reconsider the timing policy for the next academic year. Meanwhile, a comprehensive safety audit of schools across the state has been ordered to ensure student well-being.
With this decision, the Kerala government aims to prioritize educational consistency and legal compliance, signaling that the revised timetable will remain in force for the duration of the current academic session.
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