Kozhikode: Some of the decade-old aided schools in the state are going to be traded for obtaining minority status without the knowledge of the teachers and other staff. At least 20 schools in the state have changed to minority status within the past 5 years. If the person who acquire the school belongs to a minority community, minority status can be obtained from the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI).

An aided school established in 1936 in Kozhikode was traded 12 years ago. The new manager submitted application to the secretary of general education for minority status. When the decision was delayed indefinitely, the manager filed a complaint to the national commission. With this, the school was granted minority status without seeking any explanation from the state education department.

The teachers came to know that the school was granted minority status only when the post of the headmaster fell vacant. The manager of the schools that have minority status can appoint the person of his choice as headmaster. According to this, a teacher was appointed as headmaster though there were four other teachers who were eligible based on seniority.

People who belong to Muslim and Christian communities have obtained minority status for 10 schools in Kannur and Kozhikode districts. Twenty applications from various districts requesting for minority status are under consideration of the national commission. It is alleged that a person from Palakkad who has holds in BJP is helping them for the same.

According to the stand taken by the state government, a school can obtain minority status if it was set up and run by a minority management. But if the school was set up before decades and handed over its ownership recently, it is not eligible for the status. It is alleged that even the purpose of the schools set up during the Freedom Struggle with great foresights will be diverted if they are granted minority status.

Additional DPI Jessy Joseph said that many institutions have applied for minority status but the education department has not granted anyone. It has been noted that some persons have obtained minority status from the national commission overruling the state government. They obtain minority status because they can get central fund and also appoint headmaster as per their choice, Jessy Joseph said.