Kerala HC allows conduct of vacation classes for students aged above 14 – Times of India

Kochi: The Kerala High Court passed an interim order staying the order issued by the state government prohibiting schools from conducting vacation classes during summer. The court, while considering a petition filed by Kerala CBSE School Management Association and three CBSE schools, allowed the schools to conduct the classes for students aged above 14 during summer vacation with the consent of students and their guardians. The order was passed by a single judge bench chaired by Justice A Badharudeen on Tuesday.
The order is a relief for the schools as teachers said that it would be difficult to complete the portions and ensure revision without conducting vacation classes. The state government has issued an order on May 3 directing schools not to conduct the summer classes following which, most of the schools that have started the classes already had to stop. The petitioners moved the court challenging this.
The HC order stayed the government order for two weeks and the final verdict of the writ petition shall be rendered after hearing all the parties in detail. In the meantime the schools can continue the vacation classes after ensuring proper facilities in the respective schools by providing sufficient numbers of fans in the classrooms and drinking water.
The classes during vacation are aimed for the welfare and well-being of the students, for which the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) also gave consent. Therefore, classes provided during summer vacation, as consented by the school authorities and the parents and the students for the benefit of the students, need not be disturbed without valid reasons, the court observed.
Meanwhile, the court also ordered that if any parent has an objection in the matter of vacation classes, the school authorities shall consider the said objection and shall defer vacation classes.