Kerala bans summer vacation classes in schools, warns of strict action

Kerala has barred schools from holding classes during the summer break, with General Education Minister V Sivankutty warning of strict action against institutions that fail to comply with the rules.

In a statement issued on April 15, the minister said that under the Kerala Education Rules, summer vacation must be observed from the last working day of March until May, and any deviation would be treated as a violation. Schools conducting classes during this period will face action, he said.

Highlighting the ongoing heatwave, Sivankutty noted that even working hours for laborers have been revised due to extreme weather conditions. Forcing children to attend school during this time, he said, would amount to a violation of their fundamental and human rights.

He also pointed to the health risks posed by high temperatures, stating that prolonged exposure in school environments could affect children’s well-being.

Referring to earlier directives from the Child Rights Commission and court orders, the minister said that disrupting students’ vacation is not permissible.

The directive applies across all categories of schools in the state, including government, aided, CBSE, and ICSE institutions.

He added that holding vacation classes could negatively impact both the physical and mental health of students and instructed education officials to ensure strict monitoring and enforcement.