LDF Government Prioritizes Education Reform and Mental Health in Schools: Pinarayi Vijayan

Alappuzha: Along with developing basic facilities, the LDF government is focusing on upgrading academic quality this year, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after inaugurating the "Praveshanolsavam" at Kalavoor Government Higher Secondary School, Alappuzha. To implement this, an academic master plan will be prepared before June 15.
Significant changes will also be introduced in the evaluation system. Efforts to bring the entire school system under one unified umbrella are progressing steadily. Alongside improving educational quality, the government is prioritizing students’ mental health, which will be included in the curriculum. In 2016, around 5 lakh students left public schools, and 1,000 schools were shut down due to the same. Since then, through continuous efforts by the LDF government, smart schools, smart classrooms, and basic amenities have been developed at a cost of 5000 crore rupees over the past nine years.
To further enhance academic quality, this year has been declared the "Year of Quality'. By the time the academic year concluded, textbooks for the next year had already been printed and distributed to schools, an exemplary achievement.
“Knowledge should instill confidence in children and give them the opportunity to experience happiness. That is the new method of education,” the Chief Minister said. He added that discretion, critical thinking, judgment, love, and care are integral parts of knowledge. The curriculum is designed to impart knowledge in a way that encourages sharing it with others appropriately. The government has decided to spend the next two weeks focusing on increasing children’s interests through this approach.
During this period, the government will refresh old knowledge and impart awareness about substance abuse, basic traffic rules, personal hygiene, healthy habits, critical thinking regarding mobile phone usage, protection of public property, knowledge about laws, and mutual cooperation.
The Minister of Labour, V Sivankutty, presided over the inaugural function. The Education Minister announced that three crore textbooks were printed and delivered to schools even before reopening. Students’ writings were also included in the textbooks. The minister highlighted the successful online implementation of teacher transfers without significant complaints. Agriculture Minister P Prasad and Fisheries and Cultural Minister Saji Cheriyan were the chief guests at the event.
For the first time in the history of the admission festival, a female student’s poem was selected as the admission festival song. The song, written by Bhadra Hari, a student of Kottarakkara Tamarakudi SVVHSS, was chosen for this academic year. Music director Alphons Joseph arranged and performed the song. Bhadra Hari participated as a special guest at the festival. The Chief Minister presented a special gift to Bhadra and honored Alphons Joseph on stage. Education Minister V Sivankutty welcomed the newcomers, and the Chief Minister distributed school bags to the students.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan released a book on the achievements of the public education department, handing it over to Minister Saji Cheriyan. The event was attended by organising committee chairman PP Chitharanjan MLA, MLAs H Salam, Dalima, MS Arunkumar, Adv. U Prathibha, District Panchayat President K G Rajeshwari, District Collector Alex Varghese, Public Education Director S Shanavas, District Panchayat Vice President N S Shivaprasad, Aryad Block Panchayat President K D Mahendran, District Panchayat Standing Committee Chairman M V Priya, District Panchayat Member Adv. A Riyas, Gram Panchayat Presidents P P Sangeetha and T V Ajith Kumar, Mannanchery Panchayat Standing Committee Chairman M S Santhosh, Aryad Block Panchayat Member Thilakamma Vasudev, District Deputy Education Director E S Sreelatha, DPC Samagra Shiksha Kerala M S Vinod, PTA President V V Mohandas, Principal N Manju, Headmistress M Sainab, Vice Principal Mary Agnes, along with various public representatives and officials.