Why in News ?
- Kerala’s LDF government (CPI-M led) has decided to implement the PM-SHRI Schools Scheme, reversing its two-year opposition.
- This has political and governance implications, highlighting tensions between Centre–State relations, NEP 2020 adoption, and federal financial incentives.
Relevance
- GS-2 (Governance): Centre–State relations, cooperative federalism, education policy reforms.
- GS-2 (Social Justice): School quality improvement, equitable access, NEP 2020 implementation.
Background of PM-SHRI Scheme
- Launched: September 2022
- Full Form: Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India
- Aim: Develop 14,500 model schools as NEP 2020 exemplars across India.
- Coverage: Includes Central, State, and local government schools (like KVs, NVs, and state-run schools).
- Funding Pattern:
- 60:40 (Centre:State) for general states.
- 90:10 for NE & Himalayan states; 100% for UTs.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education, Department of School Education and Literacy.
Core Objectives
- Demonstrate NEP 2020’s vision of holistic and multidisciplinary education.
- Integrate vocational training, art, ICT, and multilingual pedagogy.
- Establish School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) to evaluate and improve learning outcomes.
- Foster environment-friendly, inclusive, and digitally equipped learning environments.
Reasons for Policy Reversal
- Financial Pressure:
- Kerala faced reduced Samagra Shiksha allocations since non-participation in PM-SHRI led to funding exclusion.
- In FY 2024–25, no funds were received under Samagra Shiksha; partial release in FY 2023–24 (~₹115 crore).
- Pragmatic Adjustment:
- Implementing PM-SHRI ensures access to central funds (~₹150 crore annually).
- Aligns with federal fiscal reality rather than ideological rigidity.
- Administrative Efficiency:
- Integration with existing state education infrastructure under Samagra Shiksha makes implementation smoother.
National Context — Other States
- Agreed: Delhi (AAP), Punjab, West Bengal, and now Kerala.
- Holding Out: Tamil Nadu and earlier West Bengal cited NEP-related concerns.
- Trend: Gradual convergence of opposition-ruled states towards implementation for fiscal and developmental reasons.
Policy Implications
- Centre–State Federalism:
- Reflects a shift towards “cooperative pragmatism”—states aligning with centrally funded schemes despite ideological reservations.
- Education Governance:
- Shows how financial design (conditional funding) influences policy compliance.
- Implementation Model:
- Use of SQAF for performance-linked disbursal introduces outcome-based governance in school education.
- Political Optics:
- “PM” branding raises questions about decentralized recognition in joint schemes.
Criticisms and Challenges
- Federal Concerns: Central “branding” seen as undermining state ownership.
- NEP Alignment Issues: Kerala yet to fully endorse NEP 2020 — may create curricular friction.
- Equity Challenge: Risk that better-performing schools benefit disproportionately.
- Administrative Load: Monitoring transformation via SQAF requires strong data infrastructure and human resources.
