Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has opted out of the Union government’s PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, citing concerns over its alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP). The decision, finalized during a recent Cabinet meeting, reflects resistance from the ruling coalition, particularly the CPI, a key ally of the Left Front, which views the NEP as a step toward the privatization and communalization of education.
Under the PM SHRI scheme, participating schools must adopt the NEP framework, display the Prime Minister’s image, and include the title “PM SHRI school” on their boards—conditions Kerala finds unacceptable. As the state has declined to sign the necessary memorandum of understanding, the Centre has withheld Rs 513 crore in educational funding earmarked for Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) this year and Rs 153 crore from the previous year.
This decision has cast a shadow over the future of various centrally funded educational initiatives under the SSK program. Without these funds, ongoing projects aimed at improving infrastructure and accessibility in schools face significant challenges.
Kerala’s rejection of the PM SHRI scheme underscores a deeper ideological divide between state and central policies on education. While the state prioritizes its autonomy and opposition to NEP-driven reforms, the move raises questions about the sustainability of educational progress in the absence of central financial support.
