Kerala Extends School Hours, Adds Working Saturdays Amid Academic Calendar Row

The revised Kerala academic calendar 2025 includes longer school hours and working Saturdays for high school students. The changes will be applicable across 204 working days with six Saturdays working for classes 8 to 10.  

Kerala School Education News: Kerala's General Education Department has released the revised academic calendar for the 2025-26. This year, the department has introduced longer school hours and working Saturdays for high school students under the Kerala revised academic calendar 2025. The decision aims to ensure a minimum of 1,100 instructional hours annually, which has received support and opposition from the stakeholders. 

Reportedly, Kerala high school students of Classes 8 to 10 will now have to spend an extra 15 minutes in the morning and an extra 15 minutes in the afternoon on each working day as per the revised academic guidelines. However, on Fridays, there will not be any longer working hours. Kerala state aimed for 220 working days last year; however, media reports highlight that the changes will be applicable across 204 working days, with six additional Saturdays added as school days for high school students of classes 8 to 10.

Kerala general education minister V Sivankutty shared on social media platform 'X', stating, “The revised curriculum of Kerala upholds constitutional values, with a focus on teaching students the Governor’s constitutional role amid rising misuse. Content will be added in school textbooks this year."

"When we look at all the numbers, it raises a genuine doubt whether there is a conspiracy from some quarters to destroy Kerala's General Education Department, which is being seen as a model at the national level and ranks second in the country," Sivankutty further said. 

The Kerala new academic calendar 2025 further includes arts and sports festivals, activities for differently abled students, scholarships and anti-drug campaigns. 

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