Thiruvananthapuram: The Communist Party of India (CPI) has written to LDF convener TP Ramakrishnan, demanding a discussion on the Kerala government’s decision to join the Centre’s PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme.

CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam sent the letter after Education Minister V Sivankutty announced that Kerala would implement the central project. Sivankutty defended the move, describing it as a tactical step to secure central funding.

In its letter, the CPI leadership asserted that LDF allies have the right to be informed about the details of the MoU signed with the Centre for implementing PM SHRI. According to Manorama News, the party cautioned that if the BJP’s education agenda is introduced in Kerala under the guise of the scheme, the decision should be reconsidered.

CPI is opposing the move as the documents revealed that joining the PM SHRI initiative could compel the state to adopt the National Education Policy (NEP). The party also noted that the state cabinet had withheld its decision on PM SHRI during its meetings on December 4, 2024, and April 9, 2025.

Addressing the media on Friday, Binoy Viswam claimed that even the state cabinet was unaware of the MoU signed for the scheme’s implementation.

The decision to join PM SHRI was revived following a meeting between Minister Sivankutty and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Following this,  Sivankutty also held discussions with the Chief Minister and CPM leadership before moving forward.

The PM SHRI scheme aims to develop infrastructure in two schools from each block with central assistance. Each selected school will receive an annual average assistance of ₹1 crore for five years.

Initially, the state government had opposed joining the scheme, arguing that it could pave the way for the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in Kerala. Concerns were also raised over the requirement to display boards identifying schools as ‘PM SHRI Schools.’