Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called for nurturing more talent in science streams, saying that the state was falling behind in these areas. Speaking at the Kerala School Teachers Association on Tuesday, July 16, he said, “Kerala has always been known for its achievements in general education. However, we could not nurture high-level talents of global standards in science,” the CM said.

“Studies show that our performance has not been great in mathematics either. We should be able to work towards nurturing the best talents. Teachers should take the initiative for this. But sometimes, teachers themselves become advocates of superstition and discrimination. Progressive education associations should correct them, and encourage a scientific temperament in them,” CM Pinarayi said. 

A Times of India report said that the CM also touched upon the need to develop language competency and that all students who finish their Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC or Class 10 exams) should have learned the basics by then. 

In recent weeks, there has been some talk over the grading system of the SSLC and the ability of the students who complete the exam to even read or write properly. Minister Saji Cherian’s comments regarding the liberal grading of SSLC triggered a debate and raised questions over the grading system that resulted in incredibly high pass percentages, as well as the quality of education.