Sat May 03 13:23:56 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Child Rights Commission Bans Weekday School Annual Days
**Thiruvananthapuram, May 3, 2025** – The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has issued a directive prohibiting the holding of school annual day functions on weekdays. The commission acted upon a petition from a retired teacher highlighting the excessive strain placed on students participating in these events, often involving long hours, missed meals, and late nights.
The commission’s order mandates that annual day programs be held on Saturdays or Sundays, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and conclude no later than 9:30 p.m. The ruling also emphasizes that extracurricular activities should not disrupt regular classes and that external organizations should only conduct programs on holidays.
The petitioner argued that the late-night programs, often starting around 6 p.m., negatively impacted student health and well-being, especially for those observing religious fasts. The commission agreed, stating that children have a right to participate in arts and sports without undue pressure. The new guidelines aim to create a stress-free environment for student participation in extracurricular activities. The Director of General Education has been instructed to implement these new regulations.
First Piper 