Kerala Signs MoU With Education Ministry to Join PM SHRI Schools Scheme

New Delhi:

The Kerala government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Central government to join the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme. The initiative aims to develop infrastructure in two schools per block, with each selected school receiving an annual average assistance of Rs 1 crore for five years.

Government Officials Speak

Vasudevan Sivankutty, Minister for General Education and Labour, Government of Kerala, told PTI that the decision to join the scheme has been communicated to the Centre, and the department's secretary has been instructed to finalize the agreement. The minister further added,

“This was the only way to secure the Centre's share of Rs 1,500 crore, which is pending for various educational programmes in Kerala.”

Initial Hesitation and Political Background

The Kerala government initially refused to join the PM SHRI scheme, citing concerns that it could lead to the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in the state. Although the CPIM and the Department of General Education had agreed to join the project earlier, Kerala had to backtrack twice due to strong objections from the CPI.

About PM SHRI Scheme

The Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme was launched on September 7, 2022, as a flagship initiative of the Modi government. Its primary objective is to provide high-quality education to students and equip them with 21st-century skills to make them future-ready.

• The scheme has an outlay of Rs 27,000 crore for five years, funded jointly by the Centre and state governments.

• It aims to upgrade around 14,500 schools into ‘exemplar’ institutions across India.

• Under the program, centrally operated schools, state-run schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), and Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs) will be developed into model schools nationwide.

Funding and Implementation

Each school selected under the PM SHRI scheme will receive financial assistance of Rs 1 crore annually for five years. The scheme focuses on infrastructure development, teaching quality, and modernization to create model institutions capable of delivering high-quality education across India.