‘Parents and children are happy’; no change in decision to hold classes on Saturday, says Minister Sivankutty 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Education Minister V Sivankutty said there is no change in the decision to hold classes on Saturday. The decision has been implemented. Teachers' organizations have the right to express their opinions. The government will move forward with the decision. Classes were held on the first Saturday. The minister said parents and students are happy with the decision to conduct classes on Saturday.

Teachers’ organizations including KSTA are against holding classes on Saturday. Their stand was that a unilateral decision is unacceptable. A holiday on Saturday is for the teachers to plan their lessons for the next week and for the children to study the lessons taught the whole week. The academic calendar should be amended in consultation with teachers' associations. There are presently 800 hours in primary, 1000 hours in secondary and 1200 hours in higher secondary for the academic year. Out of this, 200 working days of five hours per day exist in the primary sector alone. Therefore, KSTA leaders said that there is no need to make Saturday a working day.