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News18
03-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Zumba Row: Kerala Teacher Suspended For Criticising Govt's Move On Social Media
Last Updated: A teacher from T A M UP School, was suspended for a social media post criticising Zumba, which the Kerala Education Department introduced in schools for an anti-drug campaign. A teacher from T A M UP School in Edathanattukara, T K Ashraf, has been suspended following a social media post criticising the Zumba dance. He was suspended by the school management pending an inquiry. Following strong intervention by the Department of Education, the school took action and suspended the teacher. A meeting was held at the school on Thursday to decide on the next steps. The school manager confirmed that a copy of the suspension order has been sent to the Education Department. The controversy started when T K Ashraf shared a post on social media criticising Zumba dance. As the issue sparked public debate, the Department of General Education issued a notice to the school manager through the Deputy Director of Education, Palakkad, seeking action within 24 hours. The management requested three days to respond, but the department did not grant the extension. Subsequently, the suspension order was handed over on Thursday morning. The Kerala education department introduced Zumba in schools as part of its anti-drug campaign, and some Muslim outfits have objected to the decision. The move is facing backlash as some religious groups objected to girls and boys 'intermingling" and 'dancing together wearing minimal clothes". Many schools in the state have begun offering Zumba training from this academic year. Zumba is a fitness program that involves cardio and Latin-inspired dance. However, Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty defended the move and also shared a video on Facebook showing the participation of Muslim students in a Zumba session.'Let the children play, laugh, have fun, and grow up healthy," Sivankutty said. CPM General Secretary MA Baby called the objections based on misconceptions. He noted that Zumba is done globally and that the students were 'fully clothed". The SNDP has backed the move. Youth Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil and DYFI have also expressed support. First Published: July 03, 2025, 19:15 IST
India Today
03-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Government questions Kerala school for inviting Pocso-accused vlogger for event
The Kerala Education Department ordered an enquiry after a vlogger, who is accused in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) case, was invited as the chief guest at a government school's reopening M Nair, a popular vlogger, participated in the 'Praveshanolsavam', a ceremonial welcome for students, at Fort High School in Thiruvananthapuram on June Kovalam police had earlier registered a case against Nair under the Pocso Act for allegedly coercing a minor girl to appear in inappropriate social media content without proper The Deputy Director of Education, Thiruvananthapuram, has now been directed to investigate the incident and submit a report controversy comes just days after Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty revealed in the Assembly that 77 Pocso cases had been filed against employees working under the General Education Department, 65 of them teachers and 12 non-teaching added that nine of the accused have already been terminated from service and assured strict action against the rest. The government instructed that all pending disciplinary actions in Pocso-related cases more than a year old must be acted upon. The Director of Public Education has also been directed to ensure follow-up in cases where action is yet to be taken, he informed. IN THIS STORY#Kerala
