Thiruvananthapuram: The debate over Kerala’s participation in the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme has intensified, with Union Minister George Kurian warning that the state’s withdrawal or reluctance to cooperate could harm the progress of public education.
Kurian, who serves as the Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying & Minority Affairs, emphasized that the PM SHRI initiative does not impose any curriculum or policy changes on participating states. “Nothing has been forced on Kerala under the PM SHRI scheme. The state is free to decide its own curriculum. If Kerala does not wish to follow the National Education Policy or vocational modules, it is free to choose otherwise,” George Kurian clarified.
The minister highlighted that Kerala had received ₹1,071 crore in central education funds during 2023–24 and noted that continued participation would help strengthen infrastructure and academic resources in government schools. Kurian also hinted that if the state sought central funds without adhering to agreed guidelines, auditing bodies such as the CAG could step in.
Meanwhile, Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty reiterated that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed under PM SHRI was intended only to access central assistance, not to compromise the state’s curricular autonomy. He asserted that Kerala’s educational framework would remain independent and that no changes would be made to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
However, political opposition parties and student organizations have voiced concerns that any withdrawal from the PM SHRI scheme could weaken government schools and drive students toward private institutions or other states for quality education.
The controversy underscores the growing tension between state autonomy and central reforms in education. While the Centre views PM SHRI as a model for improving school infrastructure and innovation, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala sees it as a step toward ideological control through the NEP framework.
As the debate continues, Kerala’s public education system—long hailed as one of India’s most successful—stands at a crossroads between preserving autonomy and embracing centrally funded modernization.
