The All Kerala School Teachers’ Union (AKSTU) took out a march and staged a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Director of Education (DDE) here on Saturday raising a slew of demands, including abandoning the alleged moves to implement the National Education Policy-linked PM SHRI (Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India) scheme in Kerala.

The protest was part of a Statewide agitation by the AKSTU seeking a solution to service- and education-related issues faced by teachers.

Organised by the Thiruvananthapuram district committee of the AKSTU, the protest demanded that the Union and the State governments abandon moves to “weaken” the public education sector; implement the 12th Pay Revision Commission recommendations following the five-year model; withdrawal of contributory pension scheme; revise the teacher-student ratio according to birth rates to protect teachers’ jobs; improve basic infrastructure and academic environment in schools; find a permanent solution to service-related issues; find a solution to problems faced by teachers from pre-primary to higher secondary; and preventing closure of schools in the name of being uneconomic.

The protest was inaugurated by AKSTU State general secretary O.K. Jayakrishnan.

AKSTU district unit president Praveen S. presided. CPI State council member Pallichal Vijayan and AKSTU State unit vice-president S.S. Anoj were present.