Kerala Teachers Launch Statewide Protest Against PM SHRI and Education Policy Reforms
The All Kerala School Teachers’ Union staged a major demonstration at the DDE office in Thiruvananthapuram. The union is demanding the rejection of the National Education Policy-linked PM SHRI scheme and immediate labor reforms.
Key takeaways
- The AKSTU is demanding that Kerala abandon the National Education Policy-linked PM SHRI scheme to protect public education.
- Protesters called for the implementation of the 12th Pay Revision Commission recommendations and the end of the contributory pension scheme.
- The union seeks updated teacher-student ratios based on birth rates to prevent job cuts and the closure of uneconomic schools.
- AKSTU State general secretary O.K. Jayakrishnan led the demonstration at the Deputy Director of Education office in Thiruvananthapuram.
Teachers Target Federal and State Educational Policies
In a coordinated statewide demonstration on August 1, 2026, the All Kerala School Teachers’ Union (AKSTU) organized a march and dharna at the Deputy Director of Education (DDE) office. This mobilization, led by the Thiruvananthapuram district committee, focused on resisting the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme. Union leaders argue that this program, tied closely to the National Education Policy, threatens to weaken the existing public education framework.
A Comprehensive List of Service Demands
Beyond federal policy concerns, the AKSTU highlighted a range of unresolved administrative and financial grievances affecting the state's teaching workforce. State general secretary O.K. Jayakrishnan inaugurated the protest, which called for a definitive end to the contributory pension scheme and the adoption of the 12th Pay Revision Commission recommendations under a five-year cycle.
The union also addressed the long-term job security of educators by proposing several structural adjustments:
- Recalibrating teacher-student ratios based on current birth rates to prevent job losses.
- Halting the closure of schools currently categorized as uneconomic by the government.
- Substantial upgrades to school infrastructure and the broader academic environment.
- Resolving systemic service issues impacting staff from pre-primary through higher secondary levels.
Leadership Voices and Institutional Stability
The demonstration was presided over by district unit president Praveen S. and saw participation from prominent political and labor figures, including CPI State council member Pallichal Vijayan and AKSTU State vice-president S.S. Anoj. The collective leadership emphasized that their agitation seeks a permanent resolution to service-related friction that has persisted across multiple education tiers. The protesters maintained that any move to restructure the sector must prioritize the protection of public assets over privatization or centralization efforts.
Source: The Hindu — National
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