Kerala's PM SHRI dilemma: Funds vs ideology in education policy

The PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) scheme, a centrally sponsored initiative, has placed the newly elected Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala in a difficult position. The government, led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, must decide whether to continue with the scheme to secure ₹1,158.13 crore in education funds or stick to its stated opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.

The controversy dates back to October last year when the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, headed by Pinarayi Vijayan, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union government to implement PM SHRI. At the time, the UDF, then in opposition, strongly criticised the move, with Mr. Satheesan accusing the LDF of betraying the national cause against the NEP. Now in power, the UDF government has argued that it is bound by the MoU, as only the Union government can withdraw from it.

However, the government's stance has been inconsistent. Over the past few weeks, Chief Minister Satheesan has made contradictory statements. He first suggested that Kerala had no choice but to continue with the scheme, then denied that the government had agreed to implement it. UDF convener Adoor Prakash said the government would go ahead with PM SHRI, while a Cabinet sub-committee was still examining the issue. This prompted Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P.K. Kunhalikutty to assert that a final decision would be made only after the sub-committee submits its report. Other Muslim organisations, including the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, have also voiced opposition to the scheme.

The repeated flip-flops underline the government's struggle to balance fiscal pragmatism, coalition pressures, and its ideological position against the NEP. On one hand, Kerala needs the central funds, which have been withheld for states that do not participate. Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary has stated that states opting out will miss out on the scheme's benefits. Punjab, which withdrew from PM SHRI in 2023, later reversed its decision after the Union government froze funds.

On the other hand, there are concerns about the curriculum. The PM SHRI framework requires that the curriculum follow the National Curriculum Framework or State Curriculum Framework developed in accordance with the NEP's new structure. The MoU explicitly states that states must implement all provisions of the NEP. While the NEP allows states to prepare their own curricula and textbooks, it also says that the NCERT curriculum should be taken as the nationally acceptable criterion. The previous LDF government's Education Minister, V. Sivankutty, had pointed out that the Union government intends to use schemes like Samagra Shiksha to implement the NEP.

Even though the Union government currently does not appear to be intervening in state curricula, there is apprehension that it may eventually impose curriculum-based programmes, teaching-learning materials, or assessment patterns. Such concerns have led to resistance from states like Tamil Nadu, which has taken the legal route to challenge the NEP.

The UDF government now has two main options. It could follow Tamil Nadu's example and approach the courts, or it could write to the Union government insisting on the freedom to design its own curriculum. The latter option, however, risks drawing criticism that the government is allowing the NEP to be brought in through the back door. The decision rests on the Cabinet sub-committee, and until then, Kerala remains in a bind.