The ordinance states that children in Kerala schools should not be fined or penalised if they choose to speak in Malayalam
Thiruvananthapuram : Malayalam will have to be taught compulsorily at all schools till Class 10 in the state irrespective of the syllabus, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media on Tuesday.
An ordinance to this effect has already been inked by Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam. The new law also states that strict action, including Rs 5,000 fine, would be initiated against the school authorities if this is not implemented. Besides, other legal action would be taken.
The syllabi being followed in the state include those of the Kerala Education Board, the Central Board of Secondary Education and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education Board. Currently, the students in Kerala have the option to study Special English if not Malayalam.
Some schools also provide French as another option. Vijayan said this law will not be applicable to foreign nationals or to those students who hail from other states.
The ordinance states that from now on children in Kerala schools should not be fined or penalised if they choose to speak in Malayalam in schools.
In September 2012, a division bench of the Kerala High Court had struck down the rule framed by the government that made it compulsory to teach Malayalam in CBSE schools.
The court while quashing the government order in 2012 had pointed out that students from other states were also studying in ICSE and CBSE schools.
In April 2013, Indo- American International School at Vagamon in Kottayam challenged the insistence of the government to teach Malayalam, even after the High Court’s direction in favour of the schools.
The decision of the ruling Left Democratic Front government to frame a law to make Malayalam compulsory is apparently to do away with the legal hurdles which were pointed out by some CBSE schools whenever the government insisted for the same. The decision comes a day after the government made the usage of Malayalam as official language compulsory in all government offices from 1 May.
