Bar on teachers' political rights mooted

Panel on recognised unaided schools submits report to Education Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A committee appointed by the State government to prepare a report on recognised unaided schools in the State has recommended the cancellation of political rights to teaching and non-teaching staff in government aided educational institutions.

The report, prepared by A.A. Baby, head of the Department of Economics, St. Thomas College, Thrissur, and K.G. Sukumara Pillai, former Additional Secretary (Finance), was submitted to Education Minister M.A. Baby here on Wednesday.

The committee suggested that only those teachers who had proven administrative and management skills be promoted to the positions of headmaster, headmistress, assistant educational officers and district educational officers. A system for evaluating the skills of teachers has to be introduced.

Some of the other significant recommendations of the committee include steps to get a law enacted by the Assembly for the constitution of a fund to grant welfare relief to the teaching and non-teaching staff of all recognised unaided schools in the State; maternity leave benefits now available to teachers in government and aided school to those in recognised unaided schools; and necessary provisions in the Kerala Education Rules to ensure 30 per cent reservation in supervisory posts in the General Education Department to members belonging to the Kerala Education Service, a proposed cadre consisting of teachers selected from government and aided schools with a prescribed duration of service and qualification.

The committee also suggested that the government examine the feasibility of introducing parallel divisions in classes that follow the Central Board of Secondary Education syllabus in government and aided private schools in the State.