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India Gazette
3 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Such objections will inject poison more deadly than drugs": Kerala Minister defends Zumba in schools
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], June 28 (ANI): Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty on Saturday strongly defended the inclusion of Zumba dance in schools, stating that raising objections to such activities would inject poison that is more deadly than drugs into society. Responding to the criticism, Minister Sivankutty said, 'No one has asked children to wear minimal clothes. Children are wearing school uniforms and performing this.' 'Engaging in sports will help in developing mental and physical vitality, health and positive thinking in children. This will have a positive impact on their studies and personality development. Therefore, it is essential to encourage such healthy activities,' the minister stated. He added that Zumba and other physical activities played a crucial role in developing children's mental and physical health, and encouraged positive thinking and personality development. The Minister also referred to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, saying, 'According to RTE, children must participate in the learning processes prescribed by the government. Parents have no choice in the matter,' he clarified. On the role of educators, he stressed that teachers were bound by the directives of the education department. 'According to the conduct rules, the teacher is obliged to do what the department prescribes,' Sivankutty said. He further warned that communalising such issues would disrupt Kerala's long-standing tradition of social harmony. 'In a society like Kerala, where people live together in harmony, such stances will only encourage the majority communalism,' he added. His remarks came after the state Education Department recently planned to teach Zumba in all schools as part of efforts to drive students away from drug abuse and violence, and to improve their physical and mental fitness. Last year, ahead of the start of the current academic year, the Education Department provided training to teachers as part of their annual refresher programmes. Earlier in the day, Muslim groups in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram raised strong objections after the state education department introduced Zumba dance in schools, stating that they couldn't accept girls and boys intermingling, dancing together, or wearing minimal clothing. The move, as part of its anti-drug campaign, aimed at helping students manage stress through physical activity, drew criticism for allegedly promoting indecent intermingling of boys and girls. The backlash began after TK Ashraf, a teacher and General Secretary of the Wisdom Islamic Organisation, posted on Facebook that he and his son would not participate in the programme. 'Cannot accept this, and my son and I will not participate in this,' Ashraf wrote in a brief but direct statement opposing the initiative. Soon after, Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama leader Nassar Faizy Koodathai also posted, calling the Zumba sessions inappropriate and a violation of students' rights. (ANI)
India Gazette
7 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Kerala: Muslim groups oppose education department's introduction of Zumba in schools
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], June 28 (ANI): Muslim groups in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram have raised strong objections after the state education department introduced Zumba dance in schools, stating that they can't accept girls and boys intermingling, dancing together, or wearing minimal clothing. The move, as part of its anti-drug campaign, aimed at helping students manage stress through physical activity, drew criticism for allegedly promoting indecent intermingling of boys and girls. The backlash began after TK Ashraf, a teacher and General Secretary of the Wisdom Islamic Organisation, posted on Facebook that he and his son would not participate in the programme. 'Cannot accept this, and my son and I will not participate in this,' Ashraf wrote in a brief but direct statement opposing the initiative. Soon after, Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama leader Nassar Faizy Koodathai also posted, calling the Zumba sessions inappropriate and a violation of students' rights. In a post on Facebook, Nasar Faizy Koodathai said, 'The Kerala government has implemented Zumba dance in schools. Zumba is a method of dancing together while wearing minimal clothes. If the government has instructed even older children to do this, it is objectionable. Instead of improving the existing physical training, do not force vulgarity. This is also a violation of the personal freedom and fundamental rights of students whose moral sense does not allow them to express their anger and dance together.' The education department, on the other hand, defended its decision, saying the Zumba sessions were voluntary and were introduced under a statewide initiative to help students cope with academic pressure and discourage drug abuse. According to the official, the programme was designed to promote mental and physical well-being and was not mandatory for students. (ANI)
News18
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Row Over Introduction Of Zumba In Kerala Schools, Muslim Body Says 'Don't Force Vulgarity'
Last Updated: Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty defended the move, saying "Let the children play, laugh, have fun, and grow up healthy." After Kerala education department introduced Zumba in schools as part of its anti-drug campaign, some Muslim outfits have objected the decision. The move is facing backlash as some religious groups objected to girls and boys 'intermingling" and 'dancing together wearing minimal clothes". From this academic year, many schools in the state have begun offering training in Zumba – a fitness program that involves cardio and Latin-inspired dance. According to a report in India Today, the general secretary of the Wisdom Islamic Organisation, TK Ashraf, expressed his disapproval of the program in a Facebook post, saying, 'Cannot accept this, and my son will not participate in this" The India Today reported that Nasar Faizy Koodathai, a leader of the prominent Muslim organisation in Kerala 'Samastha', described the move as a violation of personal liberty and an imposition of vulgarity in the name of physical fitness. 'The Kerala government has implemented Zumba dance in schools. Zumba is a method of dancing together while wearing minimal clothes. If the government has instructed even older children to do this, it is objectionable," India Today quoted Koodathai as saying. 'Instead of improving the existing physical training, do not force vulgarity. This is also a violation of the personal freedom and fundamental rights of students whose moral sense does not allow them to express their anger and dance together," the Muslim outfit leader further said. 'Let the children play, laugh, have fun, and grow up healthy," Sivankutty said. The visuals were from Thanbeehul Islam Higher Secondary School in Kasaragod district. Earlier, the state education department said the Zumba classes were voluntary, adding that they were introduced with a goal to assist students cope with academic pressure and discourage drug abuse. First Published:
India Today
8 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Kerala introduces Zumba in schools, Muslim outfits don't dance to its tune
The Kerala education department's decision to introduce Zumba, a dance-based fitness program, in schools as part of its anti-drug campaign has faced backlash from Muslim organisations. The outfits have objected to girls and boys "intermingling" and "dancing together wearing minimal clothes".Many schools have begun offering Zumba training from this academic year. Expressing his disapproval, TK Ashraf, general secretary of the Wisdom Islamic Organisation, said his son would not participate in the accept this, and my son will not participate in this," Ashraf wrote in a Facebook post. Nasar Faizy Koodathai, a leader of the influential Muslim organisation Samastha, called the move a violation of personal freedom and an imposition of vulgarity in the name of physical fitness."The Kerala government has implemented Zumba dance in schools. Zumba is a method of dancing together while wearing minimal clothes. If the government has instructed even older children to do this, it is objectionable," Koodathai said."Instead of improving the existing physical training, do not force vulgarity. This is also a violation of the personal freedom and fundamental rights of students whose moral sense does not allow them to express their anger and dance together," the Muslim leader further Education Minister V Sivankutty has, however, defended the move, and shared a video on Facebook showing Muslim students participating in a Zumba session. "Let the children play, laugh, have fun, and grow up healthy," Sivankutty video was from Thanbeehul Islam Higher Secondary School in the education department said the Zumba sessions were voluntary and were introduced in an attempt to help students cope with academic pressure and discourage drug abuse.A government official told ANI that the initiative was to promote mental and physical well-being.- Ends
New Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
More Muslim groups come out against Zumba sessions in Kerala schools
KOZHIKODE: The education department's decision to introduce zumba sessions in school curriculum to fight drug menace is now at the centre of controversy, with more Muslim organisations coming out opposing the move. After Wisdom Islamic Organisation, the Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) has also criticised the decision, alleging that it violates moral norms. However, opposition to the initiative — intended to promote the physical and mental well-being of students and teachers — has invited sharp criticism from various corners. Such opposition will take society backwards, social activists said. The first objection was raised by Wisdom Islamic Organisation general secretary T K Ashraf in a Facebook post on Thursday. Ashraf, a school teacher from Palakkad, told TNIE that neither he nor his children took part in the zumba sessions arranged at the school as part of International Day against Drug Abuse. 'I send my child to a public school for quality education — not to promote a culture where boys and girls mingle, wear short clothes, and dance to music,' he said. By Friday, more leaders echoed similar sentiments. Abdussamad Pookkottur, state secretary of Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS), the youth organisation of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, labelled zumba harmful to moral values and urged parents to respond critically. Another SYS leader, Nazar Faizy Koodathai, also argued that group dancing in 'vulgar' attire is objectionable, especially in the case of older students. 'Zumba goes against Indian moral values. From what I understand, it involves students wearing tight clothes and dancing together. This cannot be tolerated. The government should have consulted student organisations before taking such a decision,' he told TNIE. However, the criticism was swiftly countered by social activists and LDF leaders. Progressive Women's Forum president V P Zuhra accused leaders of Muslim organisations of trying to steer Kerala towards Taliban-style conservatism. 'How can a teacher like Ashraf say boys and girls should not be together? Their aim is to pull the youth backwards. The youth must resist this,' Suhara said.
