Supreme Court to Kerala: Open primary schools in all unserved areas despite ‘poverty-free’ claim

In a path-breaking order to reinforce fundamental education, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Kerala government to open lower primary and upper primary schools in every locality where there is no government school at present-a strong reminder of the lingering gaps in access in a state hailed for its achievements in literacy.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant ordered the state to frame a comprehensive policy in three months to ensure primary education reaches all. The court’s observations came during a hearing in which the CJI pointed to the contradiction between Kerala being hailed for 100% literacy and the reality of areas without basic schooling facilities.

Schools Within Reach: 1 km for Lower Primary, 3 km for Upper Primary

As per the said order, the state is to ensure that:

A lower primary school within 1 km radius of every habitation

An upper primary school within 3 km

The government has been directed to identify suitable private buildings in areas where there are no school buildings, to run temporary classrooms. At the same time, Kerala will have to earmark funds to build permanent school buildings, said the court.

Retired Teachers to Step In Temporarily

It asked the state government to appoint retirees as teachers in the institutions till regular teachers are recruited to avoid the delay in beginning the academic sessions.

Local panchayats have been instructed to survey and submit the details of available land for new school infrastructure.

Comes Days After Kerala Declared Itself ‘Extreme Poverty-Free’

The intervention by the Supreme Court comes close on the heels of an announcement by the Kerala government headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on November 1 — the state’s formation day — that Kerala had become the first state in India to eradicate extreme poverty.

The observations from the court have brought into focus the disconnect between Kerala's vaunted social indicators and realities on the ground in terms of access to education.

Education Equity: Ensuring

It is a directive that is expected to have far-reaching implications for children in remote and tribal regions, areas where long travel distances and lack of facilities have for years hindered school enrolments. From being traditionally regarded as a role model in education and human resource development, Kerala will henceforth have to accelerate the process of ensuring that each child has a school within walking distance, matching its literacy legacy with universal access.