Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Pradesh School Teachers Association (KPSTA), affiliated with the Congress party, has extended its welcome to the government's decision to introduce letter reading and writing exercises from the first grade onwards. 

Highlighting the significance of literacy in primary education, KPSTA asserts that the lack of focus on foundational literacy skills has been a major contributor to the declining standards of public education in the state. The organisation criticises previous educational initiatives implemented during the tenure of M A Baby as education minister. 

These initiatives, such as the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP), the idea of knowledge construction, 'from idea to letters,' and others, neglected fundamental literacy practices, resulting in adverse effects on children's literacy levels, alleges the organisation.

K. Abdul Majeed, State President of KPSTA, and P K Aravindan, General Secretary, underscored the association's longstanding advocacy for prioritising literacy within the education system.