The Kerala Government, has implemented an ordinance to make Malayalam a compulsory subject, up to tenth standard in all the schools, in the State.

The ordinance was issued after approval by Governor P. Sathasivam, and will come into effect from the coming academic year, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to reporters.

This move came in the wake of repeated complaints, that several schools refused to teach Malayalam in border districts.

The cabinet meeting, which happened last week, had decided to make Malayalam language, a compulsory subject in all the schools in the State up to higher secondary level. However, in view of practical difficulties in implementation, the special cabinet, withdrew the decision and made it applicable only up to high school level. The cabinet also pointed out that Tamil Nadu state has its language compulsory in schools up to tenth standard only.

Presently, the language, as per an agreement between managements and the government, is taught in the CBSE schools in the state up to eighth standard.

All the government, aided, unaided, self-financing institutions, including those affiliated to CBSE and ICSE syllabus schools up to class tenth will follow the new rules. However, the Malayalam subject would not be made compulsory for students belonging to other states and linguistic minorities. They will need to study Malayalam as a subject, but will be exempted from writing the Malayalam paper to pass tenth class.

Giving other details in the ordinance, Vijayan, said, the no-objection certificates (NOCs) of schools, that refuse to teach Malayalam will be canceled. Furthermore, if the ordinance is delayed, new norms cannot be implemented next year.

Vijayan said, the ordinance clearly states that the schools should not impose any direct or indirect ban against speaking the Malayalam language. And further, no boards should be formed in the campus, directing students to use any other language, other than Malayalam.

The Chief Minister added, a fine of Rs 5,000 will be charged on the institutions that fail to comply with the new instructions.

Finance minister Thomas Isaac presented the draft ordinance before the cabinet in the absence of Education Minister C. Raveendranath who is currently abroad.

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