FIFA WC Cup final: Kerala declares holiday for schools, colleges

Thiruvananthapuram: After sustained demands from football fans, the Kerala government has decided to declare a holiday on Monday for all educational institutions, including professional colleges, to enable students to watch the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain in the early hours of the day. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed officials to issue the order, though examinations scheduled in advance will be held as planned.

The final, which is expected to continue until dawn, has triggered widespread appeals from parents, students and football enthusiasts, who argue that attending classes immediately afterwards would be difficult. Former Education Minister V. Sivankutty had also urged the government to grant a holiday, suggesting that a Saturday could be declared a working day to compensate for the loss.

The government had initially declined to announce a holiday, citing technical reasons, but reversed its stand just hours before the title clash.

The state has also taken steps to ensure an uninterrupted power supply during the final. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has decided to avoid power cuts by purchasing electricity from other states at a higher cost after receiving regulatory approval to procure an additional 200 MW round the clock.

The decision comes amid a severe power crisis, with Kerala's peak demand rising by more than 1,200 MW compared with last year. Daily electricity consumption has increased from 70 million units in July last year to 78 million units this year, while falling reservoir levels and the obligation to return 530 MW of borrowed summer power have further intensified the shortage.