Kerala

‘Sunscreen’ for school students

MALAPPURAM: When local MLA M. Ummer inaugurated an open auditorium at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School here on Tuesday, the institution became the first in these parts to have such a large canopy that can be used for many purposes.

The students greeted the MLA with loud cheers as he declared the canopy open.

Built by the Malappuram Municipality using the funds Mr. Ummer arranged, the open auditorium added a feather to this girls-only campus here, which of late had made several strides in education.

The school also became one of the first few to respond proactively to a directive by the Director of Public Instructions (DPI) against holding assemblies in the sun. The DPI directive followed a diktat by the State Human Rights Commission.

The Commission had resented the practice of holding assemblies in the sun observing that several students were fainting owing to excessive heat.

The DPI had issued an order directing all school headmasters and principals to hold assemblies either in an auditorium or in shade.

Although the issue had generated some heat over a year ago, with parents and rights activists turning against open assemblies, many schools continue the practice.

“It is time that we concentrated on improving amenities for our children. This open auditorium, for example, can serve them in many ways. They can hold assemblies there, and they can conduct their stage programmes as well,” said Mr. Ummer.

The sheet-roofed shed can shelter more than 1,500 students. The school authorities said the auditorium would save several thousands of rupees spent every year for erecting pandals and shamianas.

Municipal Chairman Kiliyamannil Yakoob said that other schools should build similar structures so that children would not have to suffer during assemblies.

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