Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has declared a holiday on Monday for all schools, colleges and higher educational institutions across the state to enable students to watch the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. The decision was taken following requests from students who wished to stay up for the late-night title clash, scheduled to kick off at 12.30 am IST.
The state government said the holiday was announced after considering the enthusiasm of football fans and the practical difficulties students would face in attending classes after watching the match.
Government announces statewide holiday
General Education Minister N Samsudheen announced that all schools under the General Education Department would remain closed on Monday.
Sharing the decision on social media, the minister wrote, “Happy now, children?”, while confirming the holiday for school students across Kerala.
The announcement was widely welcomed by football enthusiasts, with many students expressing excitement over the government’s decision.
Colleges and professional institutions included
Shortly after the school holiday was announced, Higher Education Minister Roji M. John confirmed that colleges and professional educational institutions would also remain closed.
He said the decision was taken on the direction of the Chief Minister to allow students to enjoy the World Cup final “with full enthusiasm” and to avoid travel-related inconvenience after the late-night match.
The minister encouraged football fans to enjoy the final responsibly, adding, “Let’s thoroughly enjoy the final!”
Opposition welcomes decision
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan welcomed the government’s announcement.
In a post on social media platform X, he said Kerala was experiencing the excitement of football ahead of the Argentina-Spain final and that the holiday would allow students to watch the match without worrying about attending school or college the following morning.
He encouraged young football fans to enjoy the occasion and cheer for their favourite teams.
Holiday demand gained support
Earlier in the day, CPI(M) leader and former Education Minister V. Sivankutty had urged the government to declare a holiday.
He pointed out that the final would continue into the early hours of Monday, making it difficult for students to attend educational institutions on time.
Sivankutty also suggested compensating for the lost academic day by declaring a Saturday, which is normally a holiday, as a working day.
Leaders of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) had similarly appealed to the government to announce a holiday in view of the World Cup final.
Football passion runs deep in Kerala
Kerala has long been recognised as one of India’s strongest football-loving states, with international tournaments attracting massive public interest.
The FIFA World Cup, in particular, enjoys a dedicated following, with thousands of supporters organising public screenings, fan marches and celebrations during the tournament.
General Education Minister N. Samsudheen, Higher Education Minister Roji M. John and Sports Minister O.J. Janeesh are all known football enthusiasts and have actively shared updates and support for their favourite teams throughout the World Cup on social media.
Students’ requests prompted decision
Officials said the decision was taken after receiving numerous requests from football-loving students who wanted to watch the World Cup final without worrying about attending classes the next morning.
With the highly anticipated final between Argentina and Spain expected to attract millions of viewers across the country, the Kerala government said the holiday would allow students to enjoy one of football’s biggest sporting events while avoiding fatigue and travel difficulties after the late-night fixture.
The announcement has been widely welcomed by football fans across the state, reflecting Kerala’s enduring passion for the sport and its unique football culture.