'Children should not be viewed through lens of caste or religion'; Minister slams remarks of teacher who urged students not to celebrate Onam at school

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Education Minister V Sivankutty has slammed the remarks of a teacher who said that Onam was a festival of non-Muslims and should not be celebrated at school. Calling the issue "very serious", the minister said that children should not be viewed through the lens of caste or religion. He was speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram.

"All festivals are opportunities for children to celebrate and be happy. We should not create division in their minds. No kind of discrimination will be allowed in schools. The government is looking into this matter with utmost seriousness. A report has been sought from the Thrissur education department director. Officials from the department will be present in the school tomorrow during the Onam celebrations. So far, two pre-primary teachers have been suspended in connection with the issue," the minister said.

The controversy began at Sirajul Uloom School in Kaduvallur, Thrissur, where a teacher had sent an audio message in the parents’ WhatsApp group saying that Onam should not be celebrated as it was a festival of non-Muslims. Following this, Kunnamkulam police registered a case against the teacher for making a communal remark. The case was filed based on a complaint from DYFI. The charge filed is a bailable offence related to promoting religious enmity. Meanwhile, the school principal clarified that the teacher’s comments were her personal opinion and not the official stance of the institution.