The Kerala government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union government on Thursday, October 23, for the Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, amid significant dissent from the Communist Party of India (CPI), a crucial ally in the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), as well as various student organizations.
The PM SHRI scheme is a centrally sponsored initiative that aims to establish over 14,500 model schools managed by Union, State, and local bodies. These schools are designed to exemplify the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), which has been criticized by leftist factions and education experts for its perceived Hindutva orientation.
In Kerala, at least 260 schools are expected to be included in the PM SHRI scheme. K. Vasuki, the state’s General Education Secretary, traveled to New Delhi to finalize the details of the agreement. Officials indicated that funds from the scheme would substantially enhance Kerala’s classroom infrastructure, including the development of smart classrooms, science laboratories, and advanced Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities.
However, the decision has caused political unrest within the ruling coalition. CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam criticized the signing of the PM SHRI agreement without consulting LDF partners, labeling it a violation of coalition integrity. He argued that the PM SHRI scheme is linked to the “anti-federal and reactionary” agenda of the NEP, alleging that it centralizes educational control and undermines regional diversity by imposing a uniform curriculum.
Initially, the LDF government had opted out of the PM SHRI scheme, citing concerns over the NEP 2020’s provisions, which they viewed as part of the Union government’s efforts to control education ideologically. Nonetheless, officials have now acknowledged that this prior stance limited Kerala’s access to much-needed central education funding, prompting a reassessment of their decision.
V. Sivankutty, Kerala’s Minister for General Education, stated that this new agreement would allow the state to secure around ₹1,500 crore in pending central assistance through various education schemes.
In contrast, student groups from various political backgrounds have characterized the MoU as an acquiescence to Hindutva ideologies. Aloysius Xavier, State President of the Kerala Students Union (KSU), criticized the decision, equating the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government’s actions to a betrayal of Kerala’s educational integrity. He expressed concerns that future generations may be forced to study figures like Nathuram Godse and Golwalkar as part of India’s independence narrative, placing responsibility for this potential outcome on the CPI(M) and the current government.
The Fraternity Movement also condemned the MoU, pledging to resist any initiatives that could integrate Hindutva ideologies into Kerala’s education system. They asserted, “We will not allow the implementation of the PM SHRI scheme or the National Education Policy in Kerala.”
The article was originally published by Maktoob Media.
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