In Kozhikode, the education department’s move to integrate Zumba sessions into the school curriculum as part of a campaign against drug abuse has sparked controversy, with more Muslim organizations expressing opposition. The latest organization to join this debate is the Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS), which claims that the initiative violates moral norms.
This development follows earlier criticism by Wisdom Islamic Organization. Despite the growing opposition, the initiative has been met with sharp criticism for attempting to challenge the status quo in physical and mental well-being education within schools.
The Zumba sessions are designed to promote health and fitness among students and teachers as part of a broader school curriculum, a strategy aimed at addressing drug abuse problems prevalent in many parts of Kerala. However, the debate surrounding the initiative’s compatibility with moral norms has intensified discussions on cultural sensitivities within educational institutions.
The context for this controversy is set against the backdrop of Kerala, where issues related to education and religious beliefs often generate intense debates. In Palakkad, the predominantly Muslim district in Kerala, the sentiment towards this issue has been moderate, according to sources from The Print. As this story develops, it remains to be seen how the debate unfolds and whether there will be any revisions or modifications to the curriculum based on these concerns.
