Kerala Government Unveils Comprehensive Education Reform Initiative
Tuesday, 11 February 2025, 09:57 IST
The Kerala government has announced a sweeping overhaul of the public education system with the launch of the 'Comprehensive Quality Improvement' programme, set to be implemented in the next academic year. General Education Minister V Sivankutty, addressing a press conference on Monday, stated that the initiative aims to transform every government school into a centre of excellence.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the state-level launch of the programme on February 18. Emphasizing that education reform requires more than just syllabus and textbook revisions, Sivankutty highlighted the need for effective implementation of these changes in schools.
“This initiative is the government’s top priority for the coming year, focusing on enhancing academic processes, improving evaluation methods, and ensuring the comprehensive implementation of reforms”, he said.
The initiative also seeks to upgrade technology-enabled classrooms, enhance administrative efficiency, and strengthen teacher training programmes. Better coordination between departments will be facilitated to improve overall education quality. Additionally, public outreach campaigns will be conducted to raise awareness and garner community support.
Sivankutty noted that a key aspect of the programme is to ensure a minimum pass percentage in higher classes, which will be implemented in the coming years. He also issued a stern warning against schools conducting exams or interviews for Class 1 admissions, calling such practices cruel and illegal.
“Free and equitable education from Class 1 to 8 is a legal right. We have received complaints about schools conducting exams and even interviewing parents for Class 1 admissions. This is unacceptable and will not be permitted”, he asserted.
The minister also clarified that no fees should be collected from students in Classes 1 to 8 and that unlisted fees for Classes 8 to 12 are strictly prohibited.
A vacation teacher communion will be conducted as part of the reform, which will train educators in the updated curriculum and textbooks. This will help equip teachers to effectively implement the revised syllabus so that students can score high marks in national-level competitive examinations.
To ensure timely circulation of learning material, Sivankutty confirmed that by the end of March, texts for 10th standard would be distributed during the next year, and rest of the textbooks would be handed over from the month of May.
This was a major effort towards the amelioration of quality in education provided by government schools in the state of Kerala, further buttressing the emphasis of the administration on academic development and equal chance of learning among all.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the state-level launch of the programme on February 18. Emphasizing that education reform requires more than just syllabus and textbook revisions, Sivankutty highlighted the need for effective implementation of these changes in schools.
“This initiative is the government’s top priority for the coming year, focusing on enhancing academic processes, improving evaluation methods, and ensuring the comprehensive implementation of reforms”, he said.
The initiative also seeks to upgrade technology-enabled classrooms, enhance administrative efficiency, and strengthen teacher training programmes. Better coordination between departments will be facilitated to improve overall education quality. Additionally, public outreach campaigns will be conducted to raise awareness and garner community support.
Sivankutty noted that a key aspect of the programme is to ensure a minimum pass percentage in higher classes, which will be implemented in the coming years. He also issued a stern warning against schools conducting exams or interviews for Class 1 admissions, calling such practices cruel and illegal.
“Free and equitable education from Class 1 to 8 is a legal right. We have received complaints about schools conducting exams and even interviewing parents for Class 1 admissions. This is unacceptable and will not be permitted”, he asserted.
The minister also clarified that no fees should be collected from students in Classes 1 to 8 and that unlisted fees for Classes 8 to 12 are strictly prohibited.
A vacation teacher communion will be conducted as part of the reform, which will train educators in the updated curriculum and textbooks. This will help equip teachers to effectively implement the revised syllabus so that students can score high marks in national-level competitive examinations.
To ensure timely circulation of learning material, Sivankutty confirmed that by the end of March, texts for 10th standard would be distributed during the next year, and rest of the textbooks would be handed over from the month of May.
This was a major effort towards the amelioration of quality in education provided by government schools in the state of Kerala, further buttressing the emphasis of the administration on academic development and equal chance of learning among all.
