What is the real purpose behind Kerala signing PM SHRI scheme? Sivankutty explains

The academic discussions following Kerala’s decision to sign the PM SHRI scheme are welcome, while unnecessary political controversies are being dismissed. Healthy debate has historically contributed to the growth and development of Kerala’s education system. However, the non-academic discourse currently taking shape risks undermining progress in school education.

National Education Policies and Kerala

When assessing National Education Policies, two aspects must be considered: their political content and their technical content. The political dimension of the 2020 National Education Policy (NEP) has been clearly analysed, revealing an ideological bias rooted in Hindu nationalism.

Unlike the policies of 1968 and 1986, which upheld constitutional values, the 2020 policy has been subtly transformed to conceal and transfer Hindu ideological influences.

For this reason, Kerala has rejected the curriculum designed under the 2020 policy. At the same time, the state is carefully evaluating the academic and technical proposals within the NEP, including school restructuring, changes in school entry age, new assessment models, teacher qualification standards, the National Credit Framework, Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, and the four-year integrated teacher education programme.

Decisions on implementation will be made only after a detailed review of how these measures could affect students’ learning outcomes. The state has emphasised that its primary concern is the higher education and professional prospects of students, who pursue opportunities across India and abroad. Kerala will consider its unique educational context before adopting any component of the policy.

PM SHRI Scheme and Kerala curriculum

The PM SHRI Scheme, introduced by the Union government under the NEP, bears resemblance to the Navodaya Vidyalaya initiative launched as part of the 1986 policy. Kerala has identified PM SHRI as an attempt to claim ownership of schools built with state funds and has not considered the scheme essential to its education sector.

However, the state has signed the scheme in name only, primarily to counter the Centre’s alleged neglect of Kerala’s general education system and to safeguard the educational rights of more than 40 lakh students. The move also addresses the Centre’s withholding of more than ₹1,400 crore under the Samagra Shiksha programme.

Claims that signing the PM SHRI Scheme would compel Kerala to adopt the central curriculum are unfounded. The NEP itself (Page 17, Paragraph 3) affirms that states can continue with their own curricula. Kerala remains the only state to have revised its curriculum in line with national developments, while retaining full autonomy over subjects taught under the Concurrent List. When NCERT omitted certain politically sensitive topics, Kerala responded by preparing supplementary textbooks to ensure students received complete instruction.

Basic questions from the children

Centrally sponsored schemes are funded through taxes collected from all states. Rejecting such schemes would contradict Kerala’s belief in the federal principles enshrined in the Constitution.

More than 40 lakh children in Kerala have a fundamental right to education. The government must answer their basic questions about why it should be denied benefits guaranteed under the Right to Education Act of 2009. These questions from students are as important as the arguments raised by those opposing the PM SHRI Scheme.

(The author is General Education Minister in Kerala)