Kerala’s love for football has gone a notch higher with the state government announcing a holiday for all schools and colleges on Monday, a day after the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. The decision was announced by Education Minister N. Shamsudeen on Sunday following requests from students, parents and former Education Minister V. Sivankutty.
The World Cup final is set to kick-off at 12:30 AM IST on Monday and can go past 3 AM in case it goes to the extra time or penalties. The government has decided to call off the regular academic activities in the educational institutions which fall under the general education department of the state, considering the fact that the students would find it difficult to attend the classes after a sleepless night.
Former minister Sivankutty had appealed to the government to take care of the welfare of the students and suggested that the lost academic day could be compensated later by declaring a Saturday or any other holiday as a working day. The proposal has received widespread support from educators, parents and football fans.
Shamsudeen wrote on social media announcing the decision: “Happy, right kids? The move has been welcomed across Kerala, a state known for its football culture and passionate following of international teams.
While the government declared holidays, many private institutions including the three Bhavans schools in Kozhikode and Gregorian Public School in Maradu, Kochi, had already announced holidays anticipating the impact of the late night final.
The Kerala State Electricity Board has also made arrangements for additional power purchase to ensure no power cuts during the match, with record television viewership expected across the state.
The government said the holiday was for regular classes only. Examinations scheduled for Monday will take place as planned.
As Argentina and Spain gear up for the biggest fixture in world football, Kerala has once again proved why it remains one of India’s football fanatic states by ensuring that the fans can enjoy the final without fretting about early morning classes.
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