08-07-2025
Madrassa body plans stir over school timing changes
Kozhikode: Samastha Kerala Madrassa Management Association, which oversees the functioning of madrassas under Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, warned of launching an agitation against the LDF govt's decision to revise school timings, claiming that it adversely impacts madrassa operations in state.
Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, the association's office-bearers told the media that details of the protests would be announced during a convention at Kozhikode Town Hall at 10am on Thursday.
Association general secretary E Moideen Faizi Puthanazhi said the decision to extend working hours of schools was made unilaterally without discussions. He said the new schedule was affecting the functioning of over 11,000 madrassas under Samastha in which around 12 lakh students were studying.
He added that despite Samastha president Mohammed Jifri Muthukoya Thangal personally requesting chief minister
Pinarayi Vijayan
to roll back the new schedule, govt did not respond positively. Faizi also recalled that a similar attempt was made by the previous LDF govt (2006–11) when MA Baby was the education minister. He said that move was withdrawn after widespread protests.
State govt had issued an order in June extending the daily time for Classes VIII to X in govt, aided and unaided schools under the state syllabus by 15 minutes in morning and afternoon sessions, except Fridays. The change aims to meet the target of 220 working days and 1,100 instructional hours as stipulated by the Right to Education Act and Kerala Education Rules.
