Kerala Teachers' Union Protests PM SHRI Scheme, Raises Service Demands

Thiruvananthapuram: The All Kerala School Teachers’ Union (AKSTU) held a march and dharna outside the office of the Deputy Director of Education (DDE) here on Saturday, voicing opposition to the PM SHRI (Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India) scheme and pressing for solutions to various service-related issues.

The demonstration was part of a statewide agitation by the union, which says it is seeking to protect the public education system and address long-pending grievances of teachers. The protest was organised by the AKSTU’s Thiruvananthapuram district committee.

Among the key demands raised by the protesters were the withdrawal of the PM SHRI scheme, which is linked to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The union argues that the scheme could weaken the public education sector by introducing privatisation-like elements and shifting focus away from government schools. The protest also called on both the Union and State governments to abandon what they described as moves to undermine public education.

The union additionally demanded implementation of the recommendations of the 12th Pay Revision Commission as per the five-year model, withdrawal of the contributory pension scheme, and a revision of the teacher-student ratio based on birth rates to protect teachers’ jobs. Other demands included improving basic infrastructure and the academic environment in schools, finding a permanent solution to service-related issues, addressing problems faced by teachers from pre-primary to higher secondary levels, and preventing the closure of schools on the grounds of being uneconomic.

The march was inaugurated by AKSTU State general secretary O.K. Jayakrishnan. The protest was presided over by AKSTU district unit president Praveen S. CPI State council member Pallichal Vijayan and AKSTU State unit vice-president S.S. Anoj were also present.

The PM SHRI scheme, launched by the Union government in 2022, aims to upgrade thousands of schools across the country into model schools that showcase the implementation of the NEP. Kerala has been among the states that have expressed reservations about the scheme, with concerns that it may interfere with the state’s own education policies and autonomy. The AKSTU has been a vocal critic of the NEP and related initiatives, arguing that they could lead to privatisation and inequality in school education.

Saturday’s protest is part of a broader movement by teacher unions in the state to press the government to address their concerns. The AKSTU has said it will continue its agitation until its demands are met. The union has also called for dialogue with the government to resolve the issues amicably.

The protest took place peacefully, with teachers holding placards and raising slogans. No untoward incidents were reported.