CM urges schools to finalise academic master plans by June 15

The Hindu

3 days ago

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday urged all schools in the State to prepare and submit an academic master plan by June 15, which will help improve the overall effectiveness of the education system alongside infrastructure development
Inaugurating the State-level school reopening ceremony at Kalavoor Government Higher Secondary School in Alappuzha, the Chief Minister announced that significant changes are in the pipeline, especially in the methods of evaluation. He said the government is working to bring the entire school system under a unified framework.
'Alongside raising academic standards, the mental well-being of students will be a core priority. The government is committed to standing by our students at every step of their educational journey,' the Chief Minister said.
Reflecting on Kerala's remarkable turnaround in public education, he noted that in 2016, nearly five lakh students had left government schools and over 1,000 institutions had shut down due to low enrolment. Over the past nine years, however, the State has invested ₹5,000 crore to revamp public education by introducing smart classrooms, upgrading infrastructure, and implementing student-centric policies.
Declaring the new academic year as the 'Year of Comprehensive Quality Improvement,' the Chief Minister praised the timely printing and distribution of textbooks ahead of school reopening. He stressed that the new educational vision should make learning a joyful experience and foster values such as critical thinking, empathy, and social responsibility.
Presiding over the function, Education Minister V. Sivankutty announced that over three crore textbooks had been printed and distributed before the school year began. He also highlighted a key reform—the successful implementation of a transparent online teacher transfer system. Additionally, he noted that student-authored content has been included in this year's curriculum.
A poem by Bhadra Hari, a student of SVVHSS, Thamarakkudy in Kottarakkara, was selected as the official theme song for the event. The piece was composed and sung by renowned music director Alphonse Joseph.
During the ceremony, the Chief Minister also released a book chronicling the achievements of the Department of Public Education, handing over the first copy to Minister Saji Cherian. Agriculture Minister P. Prasad attended the event as chief guest.