With other states including neighbouring Tamil Nadu deciding to instruct the government employees to enrol their children compulsorily to government schools, the state education department also received numerous suggestions to implement it. As per the top sources of the education department, the department received at least 100 suggestions from various organisations to ensure that the children of government servants are sent to government schools only. However, a section of government employees opposed the suggestions stating that it would be an infringement of their freedom to enrol their children in any schools they want.
According to a senior officer of the education department, various organisations put forth suggestions to Education Minister C Raveendranath for his active consideration. They had suggested a proposal to implement as part of Public Education Rejuvenation Mission.
"Since our state saw a steep rise in over 40,000 students registering in public schools this year, there is a positive trend in the admissions to the government schools. Moreover, all government schools are being transformed into hi-tech. So there is nothing wrong in enrolling the children of government servants in government schools now", said Sreekumar, who is one of the persons made a suggestion before the government.
Until 2016, as many as 5,715 public schools were functioning without adequate student strength which was worrying as it could lead to the closure of several schools.
Meanwhile, M Shajarkhan, an education activist, said the government employees should have the freedom to enrol their children in the schools they are interested in.
"Right now, the curriculum in state syllabus schools need to be revised. Though the number of admissions has been increased, the quality of education is still far behind. So the government should revise the curriculum and increase the quality first", he said.
Praveen Kumar (name changed), a government employee and a parent said the suggestions are baseless and it should not be made mandatory for government employees because there are many government schools in the state whose standard level in relation to imparting education is very low as compared to other private schools.
However, the Education Minister's office confirmed to Express that they would not mandatorily implement and the C Raveendranath has made it clear that it was up to the wish of parents to enrol their children in any schools they want.
" We have received numerous suggestions to implement it. But the government is not in a position to implement and it is highly impractical. Those who wished to enrol their children in government schools, they are welcome. But we can't insist anyone do so", the Minister's office said.
Recently, many government schools have been converted to hi-tech classes with the setting up of digital projector, screen, laptop and internet connectivity. Of these, 149 schools were chosen to be developed as centres of excellence. Another factor was the starting of English medium classes in Malayalam medium public schools which has revived the interest of parents in sending their children to public schools, as the English language is seen a necessity in today's education system.
