Declare holiday for educational institutions on July 20th; petition submitted to Kerala minister

KOTTAYAM: Pala Municipality Chairperson Diya Binu Pulikkakandam demanded a holiday for schools and colleges in the state on Monday, considering the highly popular FIFA World Cup final scheduled on Sunday midnight. The Chairperson informed that a petition was submitted to the Minister of Public Education and the Minister of Higher Education in this regard. She also requested the school management to grant leave to students on the same model.

Diya Binu said that such a decision would help students avoid sleep deprivation and fatigue the next day, but also invigorate the passion and interest in sports. Diya pointed out that sports can be a powerful remedy for raising awareness against alcoholism, drugs and misuse of social media. Diya Binu clarified that sports activities can play a major role in protecting children from excessive use of alcohol, drugs and social media.

Diya Binu opined that, in addition to increasing physical fitness, sports help in developing discipline, mental health, teamwork, leadership qualities, and the ability to face crises with confidence in children. Therefore, she opined that global sporting events like the World Cup Football are a great opportunity for children in Kerala to discover their passion for sports.