Deepening Academic Divide

#Deepening academic divide

State-run school students in Kerala are increasingly becoming subjects of policy experiments that, though well-intentioned, often compromise their academic focus. The introduction of Zumba dance as part of an anti-drug initiative, while aiming to promote fitness and engagement, raises questions about time allocation and academic priorities. 

Many of these students already face a disadvantaged background in terms of resources and learning environments. Unlike their CBSE/ICSE counterparts who follow a structured academic calendar focused on core subjects, students in government schools are now expected to accommodate extracurricular activities like Zumba and elaborate mid-day meal practices. 

The concern is not with Zumba or good food per se, but with whether these interventions are consuming the limited time students have for academic study—especially in schools where classroom hours are already constrained.

When teachers are expected to coordinate meals, manage kitchen logistics, and facilitate fitness programs, their core responsibility—teaching—takes a back seat. Students in government schools thus suffer a double blow: a diluted learning experience and reduced instructional time.

Unlike private school counterparts who enjoy a relatively distraction-free, academically intense environment, these students face fragmented schedules and unpredictable routines. While holistic education is vital, the balance is skewed too far toward experimentation at the cost of core academics. 

Without adequate safeguards to protect study hours and learning outcomes, such programs risk deepening the academic divide between students in government and private schools.

-K A Solaman.

Hypocrisy

#Hypocrisy

The joint protest by SFI and KSU at the Kerala University Senate Hall against the display of Bharat Mata holding a saffron flag reeks of sheer political opportunism.

These two student outfits, otherwise sworn enemies on places like Nilambur where physical violence erupted, suddenly uniting at Senate Hall over a symbolic image exposes their hypocrisy. 

The so-called outrage is nothing but a foul, orchestrated act to target the Governor and disrupt academic spaces with political agendas. Their selective sensitivities and double standards reveal a disturbing pattern of using student platforms for cheap publicity and ideological chaos.

-K A Solaman

Rotating menu in schools

#Rotating menu in Schools.

Implementing the new mid-day meal scheme in schools as proposed by the minister involves several practical challenges that are often overlooked. 

One of the most pressing issues is the delay in government funding, which puts schools in a helpless position. With insufficient or irregular financial support, school authorities are forced to arrange meals on credit, which is neither sustainable nor dignified. 

In schools teachers  should be focused on academic responsibilities. But

In many cases, teachers are compelled to approach local grocery merchants and plead for supplies on loan. This not only demoralizes the teachers but also tarnishes the image of the education system. Such a practice of “begging” for rations is an administrative failure that exposes the gap between policy-making and ground-level execution.

The proposed introduction of a varied menu and expert-level cooking adds another layer of difficulty. Most schools, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, lack proper kitchen infrastructure, trained cooks, or storage facilities. Expecting these institutions to serve diversified and nutritionally balanced meals without upgrading their facilities or increasing staff support is impractical. Hiring professional cooks within the current funding constraints is nearly impossible.

 Ensuring the timely procurement of fresh ingredients for a rotating menu is a logistical nightmare, especially when vendors are already reluctant to supply due to pending dues. In such a scenario, the well-intended scheme runs the risk of collapsing under its own weight unless urgent reforms and adequate, timely funding are ensured.

-K A Salaman

Flexible syllabus?

#Flexible #syllabus?

Kerala’s General Education Minister V. Sivankutty’s impulsive decision to revise the school syllabus in response to a political row with the Governor is both inappropriate and irresponsible. 

The school syllabus is not a tool for political retaliation or personal ego battles. It is a carefully structured framework meant to serve the academic and developmental needs of students. It is absurd to treat it as a flexible document to be altered at the whims of ministers reacting to current events. 

The minister’s announcement raises serious concerns about whether he even has a comprehensive understanding of the existing syllabus. His past promises such as the additional textbook to supplement NCERT content have never materialized.

Such erratic interventions only disrupt academic consistency and undermine the credibility of the education system. Education must be driven by pedagogy and expert consultation, not by the passing moods of politicians.

-K A Solaman

Selective outrage

#Selective #outrage

The recent episodes involving Kerala Ministers P. Prasad and V. Sivankutty boycotting official functions at the Raj Bhavan over the image of Bharat Mata reveal a deeply disturbing ideological bias within the LDF government. Their selective outrage  exposes a mindset that puts petty party politics above patriotism. Because they readily embrace mythical and politically expedient figures like Nangeli and  disrespec Bharat Mata, a symbol of national unity and pride

Such theatrics, especially on solemn public platforms like Scouts and Guides events, not only dishonour the dignity of constitutional offices but also insult the sentiments of ordinary citizens who hold national symbols in reverence. This pattern of behaviour undermines the federal fabric and reduces ministerial responsibility to cheap publicity stunts tailored for their party cadre.

More concerning, however, is the LDF’s long-standing manipulation of university appointments, where merit takes a backseat to Marxist loyalty. For years, deserving candidates have been sidelined while Ph.D. holders loyal to CPM’s ideology are fast-tracked through so-called "mercy chances" and backdoor recommendations.

The Governor’s intervention to promptly fill faculty positions, based on merit and transparency, is a welcome move to break this stranglehold. Left-aligned outfits like SFI, which once championed academic freedom, are now silent or complicit, acting only when the party’s hold is threatened. The education sector in Kerala, once a model for the country, is now plagued by nepotism and cadre favoritism. It is really a tragedy that the people can no longer afford to ignore.

-K A Solaman

#Bharat #Mata #Prasad #Sivankutty #Rajbhavan

Biased channels

#Biased #chanels

The recent uproar by certain Malayalam news channels over Israel’s missile strike on Iran’s national television headquarters reflects a deeply flawed and biased media narrative. These channels, in their eagerness to portray Iran as a perpetual victim, conveniently ignore the broader geopolitical realities and the provocations that lead to such actions. 

Their one-sided reporting not only lacks journalistic integrity but also paints a skewed picture of a highly complex issue. These media houses consistently condemn Israel without context, forgetting that Israel has been a long-standing ally of India — a nation that supported us during times of war, crisis, and international isolation. Their bias, bordering on propaganda, undermines balanced journalism and misleads the public.

Such partisan behaviour directly contradicts India’s carefully crafted and neutral foreign policy in the Middle East. India's strategic interests lie in maintaining friendly relations with both Israel and Arab nations. When regional news outlets openly vilify a friendly nation like Israel, they do not just discredit themselves, but also work against the national interest. 

It is high time the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting takes serious note of this repeated anti-national trend. No media outlet, under the guise of press freedom, should be allowed to consistently propagate views that contradict India’s official diplomatic stance. 

Strict guidelines and accountability must be enforced to ensure that Indian media upholds national interests over ideological biases.

-K A Solaman

Exploiting consumers

Exploiting consumers

The Kerala Water Authority and Electricity Board have become unchecked monopolies exploiting the helplessness of the public with irrational and exorbitant charges. 

The recent move by the Water Authority to fix water tariffs based not only on consumption but also on the size of a building is illogical, and  discriminatory. And it reeks of authoritarian policy-making. Water usage is a measurable quantity, and linking it to a building’s size—without any regard to actual consumption—is both unjust and unscientific. 

Similarly, the Electricity Board continues to impose inflated charges under complex and often opaque billing structures. With no alternative providers, citizens are forced to bear this exploitation.

It is high time these essential service providers are held accountable and brought under strict regulatory scrutiny to ensure fairness, transparency, and justice for all consumers.

-K A Solaman