Kerala High Court Directs Government to Establish Guidelines for School Playground Requirements
The Kerala High Court has instructed the state government to create guidelines outlining the necessary size of playgrounds for different types of schools and the accompanying facilities they should have.
Justice PV Kunhikrishnan stated, “The right to education is a fundamental entitlement of children, encompassing play and other extracurricular activities. If schools lack suitable playgrounds as mandated by the Kerala Education Rules, with ample space for games and sports, the government must take strict action, including shutting down such schools.”
The court emphasized that educational authorities must ensure adherence to these guidelines and are authorized to close schools that do not comply, even after a reasonable grace period.
The Kerala High Court’sdecision stemmed from a writ petition filed by the President of the Parent Teachers Association and a Managing Committee Member of a school in Pathanamthitta. They contested the district panchayat’s plan to construct a rainwater harvesting tank on the school grounds. Though the court recognized that this issue had become moot since the tank proposal was abandoned, it underscored the significance of school playgrounds. Referring to Kerala Education Rules, which mandate adequate playgrounds, the court noted a deficiency in specific guidelines, allowing authorities to neglect maintaining suitable play areas. The court directed the formulation of these guidelines within four months from the date of the judgment.
Highlighting the crucial role of school playgrounds, the Kerala High Court emphasized that they are vital for children’s holistic development, fostering physical, social, emotional, and imaginative skills. It concluded that education should extend beyond classrooms, with extracurricular activities like sports and games forming an integral part of the curriculum.
Click here to read the order
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