Thiruvananthapuram: Education Minister C. Raveendranath on Friday directed the higher secondary education director to withdraw the circular imposing restrictions on Onam celebrations in schools. The minister’s direction came 24 hours after the joint director (academic) issued the circular with a series of curbs on the celebrations. The circular had asked the school authorities to ensure that celebrations didn’t affect school exams, academic and non-academic activities.
The other directions were; all students should wear school uniform while participating in such celebrations, special permission should be taken in advance from school principal where cultural events warrant different dresses, huge expenditure will not be permitted in the name of celebrations, authorities should ensure that there is no extravagant festivities in schools and the celebrations should be organised in a modest way. The circular had categorically stated that a full working day would not be allowed for Onam celebrations.
The higher secondary director pointed out that there were reports that the celebrations were affecting environment in educational campuses. In this background the authorities issued strict guidelines for festival celebrations and asked school authorities to adhere to it strictly. With the circular now withdrawn, higher secondary schools would be able to celebrate Onam in the traditional manner without many restrictions.
It may be recalled that the chief secretary’s order imposing curbs on Onam celebrations in government offices had also generated a huge controversy. Both the UDF and BJP had targeted the government accusing it of trying to interfere in the cultural activities of the people of the state. The government had later clarified that the restrictions were only during office hours to avoid inconvenience to general public visiting the offices during these hours.
