The All Kerala School Teachers’ Union (AKSTU) organized a march and a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Director of Education (DDE) on Saturday, voicing a number of demands. Among the central issues raised was the call to abandon the alleged intentions to implement the PM SHRI (Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India) scheme in Kerala, which is linked to the National Education Policy.
This protest is part of a larger statewide agitation carried out by the AKSTU aimed at addressing various service and education-related challenges encountered by teachers across the state.
Demands Highlighted During the Protest
Organized by the Thiruvananthapuram district committee, the demonstration demanded that both the Union and State governments discontinue their efforts perceived as attempts to “weaken” the public education system. Key demands included:
- Implementation of the 12th Pay Revision Commission recommendations based on a five-year model.
- Withdrawal of the contributory pension scheme.
- Revision of the teacher-student ratio in accordance with birth rates to safeguard teachers’ positions.
- Improvement of basic infrastructure and the academic environment in schools.
- Permanently resolving service-related issues faced by teachers.
- Addressing challenges experienced by educators from pre-primary to higher secondary levels.
- Preventing school closures under the guise of being uneconomic.
The protest was inaugurated by O.K. Jayakrishnan, the State general secretary of AKSTU, with district unit president Praveen S. presiding over the proceedings. Notable figures such as CPI State council member Pallichal Vijayan and AKSTU State unit vice-president S.S. Anoj were also present at the event.
