Fitness certificate delay leaves 61 schools in Kottayam in limbo

Even as schools have resumed full-fledged functioning since reopening on Monday, uncertainty over the structural fitness of school buildings in Kottayam has not completely eased.

As per estimates, 61 schools in the district are yet to receive fitness certificates even days into the new academic year. Of the 915 schools in the district, 854 have obtained the certificates so far. Although school managements and Education department officials maintain that there are no structural safety issues, the incomplete inspections have emerged as a matter of concern.

School managements have attributed the delay in issuing fitness certificates to the confusion over which agency is responsible for conducting the inspections. An earlier order from the General Education department had stipulated that fitness certificates be issued by Local Self-Governments Department (LSGD) assistant engineers, after obtaining no objection certificates from five other departments: the Electrical Inspectorate, Fire and Rescue Services, Health, Forest and Wildlife, and the Motor Vehicles department.

Engineers move KAT

However, LSGD engineers soon approached the Kerala Administrative Tribunal (KAT), citing a lack of expertise in assessing certain safety aspects. This prompted the government to issue a revised order last week, just days before schools reopened. The back and forth has led to confusion and coordination gaps among departments, causing delays in completing inspections.

Official sources, meanwhile, said inspections have been completed in 57 of the 61 schools awaiting fitness certificates and that the issuance of certificates is now largely a matter of procedural formalities. “Fitness certificates are not ready for five schools, including three unaided and one aided school. While one of them has completed all pending works required for inspection, others have approached the court. We have instructed them not to open schools until they obtain the fitness certificate,” an official said.

Special team formed

In the wake of the roof collapse at Government Central High School, Attakulangara, Thiruvananthapuram, on the day of school reopening, the District Education department has constituted a special team to assess the structural stability of all government schools in the district. The special drive, in which 308 government schools will be examined, is slated to conclude on Friday. “If any shortcomings are found, they will be reported to the engineers,” the official added.