Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting public schools, saying that none were closed due to being deemed unprofitable.
He was inaugurating a multi-storey building at the Peralassery AKG Memorial Government Higher Secondary School (HSS) on Sunday (February 17). The building was constructed at a cost of ₹20 crore.
Recalling the state of public education before 2016, the Chief Minister noted that neglect had led to a sharp decline, with five lakh students dropping out. A list of 4,000 “unprofitable” schools had been prepared for closure, raising widespread concern. However, the LDF government, after assuming power in 2016, launched the public education protection mission, bringing together students, teachers, alumni, parents, and local self-government institutions to revive the sector. The State government invested ₹5,000 crore in school development with additional support from local communities.
Mr. Vijayan said that Kerala’s efforts in the public education sector had earned continuous recognition from the Centre’s NITI Aayog.
An alumnus of the Peralassery HSS, Mr. Vijayan stressed the importance of free education, saying that without government intervention, many children from economically weaker sections would have been deprived of schooling. He warned that the over-reliance on private institutions could lead to unaffordable fees, limiting access to education for the underprivileged.
He also pointed out that public schools in the State catered to children of migrant workers too, ensuring that no child was left out of the education system. The government was actively identifying and enrolling such children, reinforcing Kerala’s commitment to inclusive education, he added. The Chief Minister also warned against spreading misinformation regarding the State’s educational progress.
Minister for Public Education and Employment V. Sivankutty presided over the event. The new school building has 41 classrooms, 12 smart classrooms, a computer lab, an auditorium, and a lift.
