Does the Kerala Government Stand Firm on Aided School Appointments?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Kerala government emphasizes adherence to legal frameworks.
- School managements hold the authority to appoint staff.
- Protests have arisen over appointment disputes.
- Legal recourse is available for unresolved disputes.
- Government supports aided schools financially.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 1 (NationPress) The Kerala General Education and Labour Minister, V. Sivankutty, emphasized on Wednesday that the state government remains steadfast in its commitment to the legal framework regarding appointments in aided schools.
In light of ongoing demonstrations by certain school managements, the minister clarified that all governmental actions adhere strictly to the Kerala Education Act of 1958 and the Kerala Education Rules of 1959.
“The authority to appoint teachers and staff resides exclusively with the school management. The government's role is simply to approve those appointments. If disputes arise, it is the management that must seek legal recourse. It is unjust to place blame on the government for avoiding responsibility,” stated Sivankutty.
He highlighted that a case concerning the appointment of differently-abled individuals has been pending before the High Court since 2021.
“The management must clarify the actions they have taken in the past four years. After a period of inactivity, it is unreasonable to suddenly accuse the government,” he remarked.
The minister cautioned against attempts to politicize the controversy by ignoring court rulings and the legal counsel of the Advocate General.
He accused those who consistently protest against the LDF government of instigating the current agitation.
Reaffirming the government's priorities, Sivankutty declared that the administration is dedicated to safeguarding the interests of both students and teachers while respecting the legitimate rights of private managements.
“However, any infringement of the law will not be tolerated,” he emphasized.
According to data from the Kerala Legislature, Kerala has a total of 7,277 aided schools among over 12,644 schools, which includes 4,504 government schools and 863 unaided schools.
In Kerala, an aided school is a non-government institution that receives financial support and staff salaries from the government, while retaining the authority to appoint teachers and manage the institution.