Kerala to review PM SHRI implementation amid rising concerns: CM Vijayan

The Kerala government has decided to pause and review the implementation of the Centre’s PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme following internal differences and growing concerns about its impact on the state’s education framework.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Wednesday that a seven-member Cabinet sub-committee has been set up to study the scheme’s implementation in detail. “Further proceedings will remain on hold until the sub-committee submits its report,” Vijayan told reporters after the Cabinet meeting, adding that this decision would be officially communicated to the Centre.

The panel will be chaired by General Education Minister V. Sivankutty, with Ministers K. Rajan, P. Rajeeve, Roshy Augustine, K. Prasad, K. Krishnankutty, and A.K. Saseendran as members.

The move follows days of talks between CPI(M) and CPI leaders, who failed to reach a consensus despite the Chief Minister’s intervention. The CPI’s state and national leadership have opposed joining the PM SHRI, arguing that it may lead to increased central control over education, an area traditionally managed by states.

Launched in September 2022, the PM SHRI scheme aims to upgrade around 14,500 existing schools across India into model institutions showcasing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. These schools are intended to serve as “exemplary” centres of quality education and innovation, funded jointly by the Centre and participating states.

Several states and Union Territories, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Assam, Odisha, and Delhi, have already begun implementing the scheme. However, some states governed by opposition parties, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, have expressed reservations, citing concerns over autonomy and alignment with their existing education systems.

Kerala’s decision to conduct a detailed review underscores its cautious approach to centrally sponsored schemes and its commitment to preserving the state’s independent educational model.