Thiruvananthapuram: The General Education Department has decided to reduce the Kerala Arts Festival (Kerala School Kalolsavam) to three days owing to the post-flood situation in the state.
The arts fest will be conducted from December 7 to 9 in Alappuzha.
Quality assurance Committee meeting presided by the Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) has submitted the decision taken in the meeting to the government.
Literary competitions will be held only district-wise. But state-level winners will be declared after evaluating district winners and grace marks will be awarded to them.
Meanwhile, school sports meet will be conducted from October 26-28 in Thiruvananthapuram. Game items were cancelled
Grace marks will be given to district-level winners. Only athletics events will be conducted state-wise and only those who secure first and second positions in the district competitions will compete in the state sports meet.
Shasthrolsavam (Science Fair) will be conducted on November 24 and 25. Competitions for LP and UP sections will be confined to school level. Special school competitions will be held from October 26-28.
The government had earlier decided to hold the fest in auditoriums and halls without much pomp. Food will be prepared by Kudumbasree at the venues.
Education Minister had announced that inaugural and closing ceremony would not be held in order to cut down the expenditure.
Post-floods, the state government decided to avoid all the festivals including school and university art festivals, international film festival and all festivals in other departments.
The government decided to raise the fund allotted to these events to the Chief Minister's distress Relief Fund. But later, the government revised the decision and decided to conduct school arts festival following protests.