Vijayan criticises dismissal of tribal mentor teachers in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 5 (PTI) Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Friday criticised the UDF government’s reported decision to remove 308 tribal mentor teachers in the state, calling the move a “serious injustice” that would adversely affect the education of tribal students.

In a Facebook post, Vijayan urged the government to take steps to reinstate them in their positions.

He said the mentor teachers had been appointed by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government to support tribal children and reduce school dropout rates in remote areas.

According to him, the teachers were working in Wayanad, Palakkad and Malappuram districts under the Gothrabandhu scheme, teaching students from Classes 1 to 4 and providing

learning support in tribal communities.

“The decision to dismiss mentor teachers belonging to Scheduled Tribe communities is a grave injustice,” Vijayan said.

He said 241 teachers in Wayanad, 50 in Palakkad and 17 in Malappuram had lost their jobs after the government decided not to continue their appointments for the current academic year.

The teachers, most of whom have worked for nearly nine years, were recruited from tribal communities and held TTC or B Ed qualifications, he said. They received a monthly remuneration of Rs 21,900.

Vijayan said the scheme was among the most significant initiatives launched during the first LDF government and was the first of its kind in the country for tribal students.

He said the teachers played a crucial role in communicating with children in their mother tongue, helping improve learning outcomes and significantly reducing dropout rates.

“The scheme not only ensured educational progress for tribal students but also helped improve the economic and social conditions of tribal families by providing employment,” he said.

Many of the affected teachers belong to marginalised tribal communities, including the Adiya, Paniya, Kattunayakan and Oorali groups, according to Vijayan.

He said the teachers had continued to participate in school-related activities even during April and May, including efforts to enrol students in higher classes.

The dismissed teachers have launched protests demanding reinstatement.

“The government should recognise the legitimacy of their demand and take steps to reinstate them in their positions,” Vijayan said. PTI TGB KH