New Delhi: Over three years after initially declining to participate in the Centre’s flagship PM-SHRI scheme, the Kerala government has now signed a memorandum of understanding with the Union Ministry of Education—a key requirement for implementing the scheme by adopting NEP 2020. The ministry Friday described the agreement as a “major milestone”.
The Kerala government changed its stance after the Centre stopped the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds of states that refused to participate in the PM-SHRI or Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India scheme. The SSA is the Centre’s flagship universal education programme, which supports states in improving access and quality of education from pre-primary to Class 12 levels.
According to a parliamentary committee report released in March, the central government has so far withheld more than Rs 1,000 crore from West Bengal, Rs 859.63 crore from Kerala, and Rs 2,152 crore from Tamil Nadu under the SSA, after the three states refused to sign the MoU to implement the PM-SHRI, which comes under the SSA.
In 2020, the Centre announced the PM-SHRI scheme, which aims to upgrade existing schools into institutions aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, supported by funds from the central and state governments in a 60:40 ratio. The Union cabinet approved the scheme in September 2022.
However, three states—Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal—considered the scheme an “imposition” and initially resisted participation. With the Kerala government now adopting the PM-SHRI, only Tamil Nadu and West Bengal remain to join the scheme.
Building on this development, the Union education ministry Friday announced the MoU signing with the Kerala government, stating in an X post, “This marks a major milestone in transforming school education in Kerala, developing schools as centres of excellence with modern infrastructure, smart classrooms, experiential learning, and a strong focus on skill development in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.”
“Together, we are committed to providing quality, inclusive, and holistic education that nurtures innovation and prepares students for a brighter future,” it added.
In this report, ThePrint explains the scheme and the controversy surrounding its implementation.
What the PM-SHRI scheme is
The Centre aims to upgrade 14,500 schools across India between 2022-23 and 2026-27 under the PM-SHRI scheme, transforming them into model institutions that reflect the vision of NEP 2020, with a total corpus of Rs 27,360 crore shared between the central and state governments.
Of the total, the central government will contribute Rs 18,128 crore while the states provide the remaining funds, with the scheme expected to benefit nearly 1.8 million students nationwide.
So far, 13,070 schools have been selected for upgradation. The initiative focuses on improving infrastructure, academic standards, and holistic development, making the designated schools benchmarks for quality education across India.
The schools will get ‘smart’ classrooms, libraries, science labs, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities, and green campuses. Integration of digital tools, vocational education, and life skills training will prepare students in these schools for the workplace.
Other features include an equitable and inclusive learning environment that promotes curiosity and collaboration among students, as well as integrating the local community’s active participation and celebration of school events into the educational model. Besides, schools will be incentivised through funding mechanisms linked to quality parameters.
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Why some states oppose the PM-SHRI
Some of the Opposition-ruled states have opposed the PM-SHRI scheme, citing its prerequisite for adopting NEP 2020. For instance, Tamil Nadu has raised concerns over the imposition of the three-language formula recommended under NEP 2020, with the M.K. Stalin government perceiving the scheme as a backdoor method to impose Hindi, though no language can be imposed on any state under the PM-SHRI.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government also fears disruption to its current education model and accuses the Centre of using financial coercion to force compliance with the NEP, thereby violating state autonomy.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF)-led Kerala resisted the PM-SHRI scheme, fearing the “saffronisation and politicisation” of education under the NEP. And, similarly, West Bengal has been resisting the scheme, citing ideological differences.
Clauses 3.6 of the PM-SHRI scheme, which eases rules for ‘non-governmental philanthropic organisations’ to build schools, and 4.27, which introduces ‘knowledge of India’, have faced criticism in Kerala, as the government feared that they may allow the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its affiliates to set up schools and influence the curriculum. Additionally, Kerala saw Clause 8.4, which encourages the “private/philanthropic school sector”, as undermining public education.
The Delhi and Punjab governments had initially also resisted the scheme. They later signed the MoU after the Centre withheld their SSA funds.
Why Kerala signed MoU with Centre
Kerala’s General Education Minister V. Sivankutty, on 19 October, announced the LDF government’s decision to secure central funding of Rs 1,466 crore for the state’s education sector by implementing the PM-SHRI.
The government, earlier in June, had stated that it would not avail the scheme and was considering legal recourse to ensure that the central funds reached the state.
The shift by Kerala marks a significant policy turnaround, with funding pressure appearing to have been decisive.
According to a report in The Indian Express, Sivankutty said, “It is money that should be used for our children. Many expenses, such as student grants and teachers’ salaries, can be met only if this fund arrives. Other departments, such as health and agriculture, have also accepted the Centre’s assistance. The funds of the Union government belong to everyone in this country. Why should we stay away?”
However, the MoU signing has resulted in a difference of opinions between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India in the ruling alliance of Kerala, as the latter, more strongly, believes that PM-SHRI is the Centre’s way of promoting its NEP 2020.
On Wednesday, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam told ThePrint that his party has been against NEP because it promoted the RSS ideology.
“The structure of PM-SHRI is NEP, which is the RSS ideology’s implementation in education. Political unity should always be upheld. Our struggle is about upholding the Left ideology. And we believe the CPI(M) will also understand this,” Viswam said.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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