Kerala CM, ministers to don teachers' robes on Sept 5

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 26: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet colleagues will impart classes and teach the state's students about lifestyle diseases, alcoholism and drug abuse to mark this year's Teachers Day, an official said today.

All ministers and MLAs will also give classes in the schools of their choice. The decision in this regard was taken at the weekly cabinet meeting held here.

Besides the Chief Minister, Finance minister T M Thomas Issaac, Health minister K K Shylaja, Local Self Government minister K T Jaleel and Education minster, Prof C Ravindranath and A Sampath, MP, will interact with children at the Central high school nearby Attakulangara on September 5.

The school was on the verge of closure due to inefficiency of funds. However, following public protests, the government decided not to shut it down.

Prof Ravindranath said Teacher's Day would be celebrated in over 12,000 schools in Kerala this year and it would be a year-long celebration.

"A class on lifestyle diseases, alcoholism and drug abuse will be among topics which will be discussed with the participating students, their parents and the public," Ravindranath told PTI.

"There is a possibility of alcoholism and drug abuse on the rise among students and to avoid the increase we decided to choose these subjects," he said.

Each school in Kerala will publish a booklet, comprising all the activities and seminars held during Teacher Day celebrations, he said. Classes will also be held on unhealthy food habits and laziness.

Kerala is far ahead among other states in social indicators like literacy rate, higher enrolment of students, higher percentage of girls and SC and ST students in schools.

PTI