Minister V Sivankutty Overlooks Assurances to Christian School Management, Claims Archbishop Tharayil

Changanassery Archbishop Thomas Tharayil has accused Kerala's Education Minister V Sivankutty of forgetting his commitments regarding teacher appointments in Christian-aided schools. The Archbishop highlighted the implications of a recent Supreme Court ruling and questioned the government's stance on these appointments.

Changanassery Archbishop Thomas Tharayil expressed concerns about Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty's stance on teacher appointments in Christian-managed schools. He suggested that the minister might have overlooked previous commitments made to these institutions regarding general category appointments.

The Archbishop highlighted a recent Supreme Court ruling related to Nair Service Society (NSS) schools. He argued that this decision should also apply to Christian-aided schools, a view not shared by the minister. Tharayil questioned why the government is blocking general category appointments in Christian-managed aided schools, citing the court's decision as only relevant to NSS schools.

Minister's Response and Actions

Minister Sivankutty recently advised aided school managements against misleading the public about appointing differently-abled candidates for teaching and non-teaching roles. He claimed that only a few managements were reporting vacancies, urging others to clarify why positions remain unfilled.

The minister announced that the General Education Department would investigate unreported vacancies across various managements. They aim to identify those withholding information deliberately and take necessary actions based on their findings.

Previous Discussions and Assurances

Archbishop Tharayil recalled meeting with Minister Sivankutty a year ago, along with others, to discuss their requests. The minister had agreed to consider these requests at that time. "Has he forgotten what he said back then? I do not know what happened," the Archbishop remarked.

The Archbishop's comments followed Sivankutty's recent statements about school managements' responsibilities in reporting vacancies. The minister emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in filling teaching and non-teaching positions.

These developments highlight ongoing tensions between the government and Christian-aided schools over appointment policies. The situation underscores the complexities involved in managing educational appointments within diverse institutional frameworks.

With inputs from PTI