Thiruvananthapuram: By increasing investments in social sector sizeably, the LDF government intends to regain the high socio-economic-health indicators for which Kerala was known across the globe. The health and education standards dropped considerably over the years owing to a host of reasons; complacency, lack of political will, flawed policies and directionless approach. More than two decades ago, Kerala could export quality human resources across the world especially to Middle East because of the firm base laid by a better-quality education infrastructure.
In return, the state received huge NRK remittances which remain vital to keep the state’s economy up and running. While the state continued to rest on its past laurels in education and health sectors, the ground beneath slipped fast. Students’ strength in aided and government schools dropped considerably while unaided schools gained hugely. Pass percentages were hiked unreasonably to show that quality education was intact. Lack of in-service training reflected in continuously falling teaching standards.
Attempts made for activity oriented education through initiatives like DPEP faced stiff resistance from teachers organisations. Division fall, increase in number of protected teachers, no government control over appointments in aided schools, resistance to KER amendments and lack of modernisation were some of the other factors responsible for pushing education sector into crisis. Similarly in the health care sector, the state which once boasted of indictors comparable to the developed countries is now facing serious problems.
Public health care system at the grassroots level is almost on the verge of collapse while super specialty sector is bursting at the seams. Communicable diseases have come back strongly, while increasing life style diseases are taking its toll on Malayali’s health and productivity. It is in this backdrop that the LDF government has decided to invest massively to revitalise the two core sectors which are so crucial for human development.
