No change in stance on NEP: Sivankutty

There is no change in the State government’s stance on the National Education Policy (NEP) even if it has decided to implement the PM Shri (Prime Minister Schools for Rising India) scheme in Kerala, Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty has said.

The Minister told The Hindu that the government did not want to lose out on arrears for the 202324 academic year and the funds for 202425 from the Union government. Also, 332 schools in the State would get ₹1,008 crore as Central funds over five years through the implementation of PM Shri. “We do not want the students here to suffer when those in other States benefit from the funds. However, the PM Shri will not be implemented in its entirety. The report of a Statelevel committee, with the General Education Principal Secre

Government decided to implement PM Shri scheme to ensure Kerala does not lose out on funds

tary as chairperson, constituted for the implementation of the PM Shri will be examined and decision taken on what is acceptable to the State,” he said.

The Minister underlined that the State had not agreed to implement the NEP. However, there was no need to lose out on funds it would get if it were to implement the PM Shri.

If it did not do so, it would lose ₹187.78 crore of Samagra Shiksha funds and ₹165.4 crore through the STARS (Strengthening TeachingLearning and Results for States) funds for 202324 and ₹385.35 crore and ₹240 crore, respectively, for 202425. The Samagra Shiksha funds are used for distribution of uniforms and textbooks to students every year.