Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Union government to implement the PM SHRI School scheme, a part of the National Education Policy (NEP) that the state had previously opposed on political and policy grounds. The move has invited criticism from ruling CPM’s key coalition partner--CPI and other parties, who allege that the state has yielded to the union government. However, the state government maintains that it signed the MoU only to secure Kerala’s rightful share of central funds.

PM SHRI scheme

The PM SHRI (Pradhan Manthri Schools for Rising India) initiative, planned for 2023–27, aims to develop 14,500 model schools across India. Each block will have two such schools — one elementary and one secondary. In Kerala, around 300 government schools will be upgraded under this central government scheme. These institutions will be identified as PM SHRI schools and will display signboards featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image.

The Union government describes PM SHRI schools as model institutions designed to equip students with 21st-century skills. According to the official guidelines, these schools are meant to demonstrate the quality and implementation of the NEP 2020.

Link between NEP and PM SHRI

The PM SHRI agreement requires states to fully implement the provisions of the NEP. As a result, schools under this scheme must follow the NCERT curriculum. This would mean that PM SHRI schools in Kerala will adopt the central syllabus, while other state-run schools will continue with the state syllabus — potentially creating a two-tier system within government education.

Fund issue

The Centre had withheld funds for Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) since the last quarter of 2023–24, citing Kerala’s refusal to sign the PM SHRI MoU. Around Rs 1,200 crore remained frozen over the past two years. With projects disrupted and SSK employees facing salary delays, the state government eventually signed the agreement on Thursday under central pressure.

Government’s defence

The Kerala government insists that there has been “no compromise in policy” and that its opposition to the NEP remains unchanged. It maintains that signing the PM SHRI MoU was a pragmatic step to ensure that Kerala received its due central funding.

Political stance and policy shift

Both the CPM and CPI have consistently criticised the NEP, calling it a move towards saffronisation and commercialisation of education. They have condemned the removal of references to Gandhi’s assassination, the Gujarat riots, and Mughal rule from textbooks, describing it as part of the Sangh Parivar’s ideological agenda. At its Madurai party congress earlier this year, the CPM reiterated that the NEP was “dangerous.” However, by agreeing to implement PM SHRI schools, critics argue that Kerala has effectively accepted the Centre’s policy in principle.