Elaborating on the challenges faced by Kerala due to the withholding of funds, the Minister said, “A total of 7,000 teachers have to be paid, free uniform and school text books need to be provided, grants for library, sports, schemes relating to the girl child and differently abled students need to be released – all these will be strained if the Centre does not release the money.” It was a cordial meeting but nothing substantial happened, he added.

Kerala’s objection to “saffronise” and ‘communalise” the education system through NCERT textbooks was also taken up at the NCERT Council meet on Friday.

Pradhan expresses the Centre’s commitment to NEP

The Centre is committed towards redefining education as envisioned in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 as well as fulfilling the educational priorities of Kerala, Pradhan said.

Releasing a statement after meeting Sivankutty, Pradhan said, “We held fruitful discussions on strengthening the school education landscape, fostering a more engaging learning environment and equipping the children of Kerala with knowledge and skills to thrive in the 21st century.”

The NEP aims to transform the Indian education system by modernising it and it replaces the previous policy of 1986. The Southern States, particularly Tamil Nadu, have strongly opposed the three-language policy proposed by NEP 2020. Tamil Nadu has vehemently opposed it and billed it a `Hindutva policy’ by stating that it prioritises Hindi and Sanskrit over regional languages while Kerala’s response to it has been measured.