The political controversy over the PM SHRI school development scheme escalated in the Kerala Assembly as General Education Minister N. Shamsudheen stated that Kerala is legally obligated to stay in the program due to a one-sided agreement signed by the previous government. The agreement allows only the Centre to unilaterally terminate it, leaving Kerala with no withdrawal rights.
Shamsudheen highlighted that exiting the PM SHRI scheme could cost Kerala around Rs 2,000 crore, including forfeiting funds for the development of 304 government schools and risking losses under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. He emphasized that despite objections to certain provisions of the scheme, the state cannot afford to opt out due to financial implications.
The Minister criticized the lack of consultations before signing the agreement, alleging that the previous government did not engage stakeholders or conduct preparatory exercises. He reiterated concerns about curriculum and academic autonomy, stressing the need for wider discussions before entering into binding agreements. The current government aims to protect Kerala’s interests while securing Central assistance for public education.
Former Education Minister V. Sivankutty, a CPI(M) leader, accused the Muslim League and Congress of implementing a frozen scheme that posed risks to the state’s educational autonomy, as revealed during the Assembly session.
