Kerala’s General Education Minister V. Sivankutty clarified on Sunday that under the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP), states retain full authority over the publication of school textbooks and thus there is “no reason for concern” about any loss of control.
Speaking amid controversy surrounding the state’s signing of the PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme, the minister defended Kerala’s decision, emphasising that the NEP is not mandatory and that the state remains free to align its own education policy with its priorities.
He reiterated that the state has the right to design and publish its own textbooks, and repeated assurances that:
- The MoU signed with the Centre includes a clause allowing the state to withdraw from the agreement at any time, after discussions.
- Kerala’s longstanding education policy under the Left Democratic Front will not be compromised.
- The focus is on ensuring access to central funding for around 47 lakh students from marginalised backgrounds, rather than altering curriculum content to suit external agendas.
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His statement reaffirmed that curriculum and textbook-related decisions remain under the purview of individual state governments.
