Kerala student’s electrocution: Thevalakkara school headmistress to be suspended

Kerala’s General Education department has decided to suspend the headmistress of Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam.

Expressing sorrow over the death of Midhun, a Class VIII student of the school who was electrocuted on Thursday while trying to retrieve a footwear that had fallen on the roof a bicycle shed on the school premises, Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty at a press conference on Friday said a show-cause notice would be issued to the school. The management should reply to the notice within three days.

The Minister said a high-level meeting in which General Education secretary K. Vasuki, Director of General Education (DGE) Shanavas S., and he took part to discuss a report submitted by the DGE on the incident decided to take strict action keeping in mind the “loss of a son of the State.”

The Minister said an explanation would be sought from the assistant education officer (AEO) who was in charge of the school. AEO Antony Peter had held additional charge of the district education officer (DEO) at the time of school reopening.

Counselling for children

The meeting decided to give counselling to children who studied with Midhun if they showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

A financial assistance of ₹3 lakh would be provided to Midhun’s family immediately from the public deposit account of the General Education department. Discussion on further assistance would be decided after the Chief Minister returns from New Delhi.

The meeting decided that the management should consider providing financial support to the deceased student’s family. Examination fee and other charges will be exempted for his younger brother till Class XII. An order would be issued in this regard.

The Minister reiterated that a circular on preparations to be made for school reopening issued by the DGE on May 13 clearly specified that if electric posts, electric lines, staywires, and transformers without protective barriers were spotted on the way to school, school campus or its surroundings, the Kerala State Electricity Board should be informed. Even the Chief Minister had presided over a meeting to review the school reopening arrangements.

The Minister said it was the responsibility of the school authorities to keep following up the matter or, in the event of inaction, inform higher officials or the Minister. Any negligence was not acceptable, he added.