Minister V. Sivankutty Rejects PM Shri Controversies, Vows to Uphold Secular Education in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Public Education Minister V. Sivankutty has dismissed what he described as unnecessary political controversies surrounding the PM Shri scheme. In an article published in Deshabhimani, the Minister affirmed his commitment to upholding secularism and always standing with children.

Minister Sivankutty stated that some individuals, including media outlets and political leaders, are actively misinterpreting the provisions outlined in the memorandum of understanding for the PM Shri scheme. He clarified that the assertion that signing the agreement would necessitate the state to replace its entire curriculum with centrally dictated content is untrue.

The Minister highlighted that the National Education Policy itself permits states to continue with their existing curriculum. Furthermore, Kerala stands as the sole state that has updated its curriculum in response to evolving national circumstances. Since the introduction of higher secondary education, the state’s curriculum has been developed by integrating both NCERT and SCERT textbooks.

Sivankutty emphasized that states retain ultimate authority to decide which parts of any adopted textbook should be taught or omitted. This autonomy was demonstrated when Kerala issued and implemented additional textbooks after NCERT removed certain sections based on political considerations. He further suggested that those who remain unconvinced could directly inquire with states that have already implemented the PM Shri scheme, noting that opposing national parties could easily gather and disseminate such information to the public.

The Minister underscored that Kerala’s public education sector has earned global recognition through the intellect and hard work of numerous individuals, and it will not be compromised for narrow interests. The inherent secular nature of school education is paramount. The department is steadfast in its policy of opposing, without bias, both majority and minority communal forces attempting to dilute this secular character.

Sivankutty asserted that everyone is obligated to demonstrate through action the Left’s principle of preserving a secular environment without yielding to communalism. He concluded that the Public Education Department in Kerala is dedicated to children and their education, aiming to foster a healthy and culturally rich society. The department will continue to make courageous decisions to fulfill the needs of children.