Thiruvananthapuram: Outgoing Education Minister V Sivankutty has expressed serious concern over the delayed formation of the new state cabinet, stating that the leadership vacuum is severely impacting the operations of the Education Department.

In his latest Facebook post, he noted that several days have passed since the election results, yet the lack of a presiding minister has triggered major crisis in the public education sector, where ministerial-level interventions are currently vital.
 

Sivankutty highlighted that the absence of a minister led to considerable confusion regarding the announcement of SSLC results, a process eagerly awaited by hundreds of thousands of students and parents. Furthermore, with the new academic year approaching, essential preparations such as ensuring the fitness of school buildings have come to a standstill. He emphasised that the printing and distribution of textbooks require constant ministerial oversight and coordination to meet deadlines, warning that the current lack of leadership could lead to serious consequences in the coming days.

The former minister also drew attention to the challenges facing teacher training and the Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) initiative. He pointed out that the Union Government ceased funding for SSK years ago, and it was only through active ministerial engagement that the state government previously secured special funds to ensure salaries and benefits for staff. Without administrative leadership, these sectors are now facing stagnation, he wrote.

Sivankutty concluded by stating that the systematic progress previously seen in public education is at risk, and immediate intervention is necessary to restore efficiency to the department.