Kerala’s Minister for General Education, V. Sivankutty, has sharply criticized what he describes as attempts to inject politics into the critical process of appointments within aided schools across the state.
Speaking on Thursday, October 2, 2025, and addressing recent protests staged by some aided school managements, the Minister made it unequivocally clear that the Kerala government stands firm and “will not succumb to such pressures.”
Minister Sivankutty affirmed the government’s steadfast commitment to ensuring fair and rightful appointments for differently abled individuals, stating emphatically that there would be no compromises on this crucial matter. He also declared any challenges from school managements on this front to be unacceptable.
Simultaneously, the Minister assured that the government remains dedicated to safeguarding other existing appointments in aided schools, along with protecting the entitlements of staff and the best interests of students.
Earlier, Mr. Sivankutty had voiced concerns, alleging that aided school managements had failed to report vacancies specifically reserved for differently abled candidates.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Minister clarified that while appointments for teaching and non-teaching staff in aided schools are made by the managements themselves, the government’s role is limited to approving these selections. He urged managements to pursue legal avenues if they encounter any issues with appointments, rather than directing blame towards the government.
Emphasizing the rule of law, the Minister reiterated that the government operates strictly within the existing legal framework. He stressed that all aided school managements in Kerala are legally bound to adhere to the provisions of the Kerala Education Act, 1958, and the Kerala Education Rules, 1959, and that no deviations would be tolerated.
Mr. Sivankutty further highlighted that despite significant judgments from both the Kerala High Court and the Supreme Court regarding appointments for differently abled individuals, managements had not pursued legal recourse. He suggested that their current protests, occurring in the final year of the Left Democratic Front government’s tenure, were politically motivated.
Minister Urges Dialogue to Resolve Disputes
The Minister urged managements to cease their protests and engage in constructive dialogue to find a resolution. He reaffirmed the government’s readiness to hold discussions with all relevant stakeholders to address the matter.
The contentious issue of aided school appointments has also been a subject of intense debate recently within the State Assembly.