Advocacy group calls for reforms in Kerala’s edu sector

T'puram: Save Education Committee has urged the state govt to initiate urgent intervention to address the challenges Kerala's education sector face and has sought the appointment of an expert committee to study the impact of policies implemented during the previous LDF govt. Leaders of the committee met chief minister V D Satheesan and submitted a memorandum seeking a comprehensive review of developments in the education sector over the past decade. The organization alleged that policy decisions taken by the LDF govt had weakened the foundations of the ‘Kerala model' of education and pushed public education into crisis. The memorandum stated that several govt and aided schools are facing threat of closure despite SSLC results recording near-100% success rates. According to the committee, there has been a decline in language proficiency and mathematical skills among students, necessitating a scientific study and corrective measures to restore academic standards. The memorandum also criticized the previous govt led by former CM Pinarayi Vijayan for signing up for the PM SHRI scheme despite opposition, claiming public dissatisfaction over the move was reflected in the recent election results. The committee further raised concerns over the implementation of the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP), arguing that the replacement of conventional degree courses such as BA, BSc and BCom had created serious academic consequences. It sought a detailed study of the impact of the new system and demanded restoration of the traditional degree programmes in a scientific and time-bound manner. Among the key demands raised were revision of the Malayalam language curriculum to strengthen literacy, ensuring effective mathematics education, restoration of examination and objective evaluation systems, rejection of the Khader Committee report and reinstatement of a separate directorate for higher secondary education. The committee also demanded that Kerala should clearly declare it would not adopt National Education Policy 2020 and instead consider implementing the proposed People's Education Policy. It further called for democratic procedures in university appointments, including vice-chancellor selections, and suggested publishing an annual education survey similar to the state's financial survey. The delegation that met the chief minister included committee president George Joseph, general secretary E N Shanthiraj and vice-president M Shajarkhan.