The Communist Party of India (CPI) has firmly reiterated its stance, urging the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala to either reconsider or entirely withdraw from a controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement, signed with the Central government, is crucial for unlocking federal funding for the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) program, but the CPI believes it implicitly endorses the contentious National Education Policy (NEP).
CPI General Secretary D. Raja, after discussions with his Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] counterpart M.A. Baby in Delhi, emphasized that accepting PM SHRI funding signifies an acceptance of the NEP. He criticized the state government’s decision to sign the accord with undue haste and without consulting its allies or the Cabinet.
“Both the CPI(M) and the CPI have consistently opposed the NEP, viewing it as a policy that advances the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). We consider the NEP to be synonymous with the commercialization, communalization, and centralization of education,” Mr. Raja stated.
Mr. Raja confirmed that he and Mr. Baby have directed their respective party units in Kerala to review the MoU and seek a compromise that does not undermine the Left’s national position on the NEP. He explicitly stated, “Withdrawing the MoU is a valid option.”
M.A. Baby of the CPI(M) echoed the CPI’s concerns regarding the NEP. He explained that Kerala felt compelled to sign the PM SHRI agreement, which is slated to expire in 2027, because the Central government unfairly made it a prerequisite for releasing the statutory Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) funds legitimately owed to the state.
Mr. Baby highlighted that Kerala has already made significant advancements in education, which PM SHRI aims to achieve. He noted that the state boasts smart classrooms and modern government school infrastructure. However, he stressed that Kerala requires the 60% federal allocation to maintain this momentum, and asserted that signing the MoU for these funds did not imply the LDF’s acceptance of the broader NEP agenda.
Interestingly, Mr. Baby commented that the centralization of education is not a new issue, tracing its origins to the Congress party’s historical decisions. He argued that the Indira Gandhi government’s move during the Emergency to include education in the Concurrent List opened the door for the Centre to infringe upon state jurisdiction. He believes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has since capitalized on this “flawed decision.”
He concluded by citing Kerala’s past resistance to central mandates, such as rejecting NCERT’s attempts to remove references to the Gandhi Assassination and the Mughal reign from history textbooks. He affirmed that Kerala intends to maintain this independent approach within the PM SHRI scheme, ensuring its core educational principles remain uncompromised.