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Education Minister of Kerala is V. Sivankutty: Read Everything About V. Sivankutty

Nikita Parmar

Updated on 22nd July, 2024 , 11 min read

Education Minister of Kerala

Education Minister of Kerala is V. Sivankutty

Vasudevan Sivankutty is an Indian politician who is now the new education minister for general education and labor in the Kerala government. In the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly, he represents the Nemom Constituency. V. Sivankutty is a State Committee Member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala, as well as the State Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) in Kerala and the Thiruvananthapuram District President of CITU.

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Education Minister of Kerala: Vasudevan Sivankutty

Kerala's current Public Education Minister is Vasudevan Sivankutty. He became involved in politics through the Students Federation of India (SFI). He is married to R. Parvathi Devi, a women's rights activist and Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) member. They have one child. V. Sivankutty is the new Kerala education minister, assumed office as Minister for Education and Labour on May 20, 2021, succeeding C. Raveendranath as Minister of General Education.

education minister of kerela

He was re-elected as Nemam MLA (2021) by beating Muralidharan. He has served as Kerala Education Minister since May 20, 2021. He became involved in politics through the Students' Federation of India (SFI). He beat the BJP's Kummanam Rajasekharan and K. Muraleedharan in the recently completed Kerala Assembly Elections to become the MLA of Nemom again (2021-Present). He served as President of Ulloor Panchayat, Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joint Secretary of the All India Mayors' Council, MLA of Thiruvananthapuram East, and afterward, Nemom from 2011 to 2016.

Literacy Movement, Employment and Training, Skills, Rehabilitation, Factories and Boilers, Insurance, Medical Service, Industrial Tribunals, and Labour Courts are now under his supervision. He presently serves as a minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government, overseeing the ministries of Public Education and Labour.

V. Sivankutty: Personal Information

                        Personal Details

Full Name 

Vasudevan Sivankutty

Born Date

10 November 1954

Age

67 years

Place of Birth 

Cheruvakkal, Trivandrum, State of Travancore–Cochin

(present-day Kerala), India

Residence(s)

Thiruvananthapuram

Political Party 

Communist Party of India (Marxist)

Parents

M. Vasudevan Pillai and 

P. Krishnamma

Spouse(s)

R. Parvathy Devi

Children

1

Personal Life

On November 10, 1954, Sivankutty was born in Cheruvakkal, Thiruvananthapuram, as the son of activist M. Vasudevan Pillai and P. Krishnamma. He graduated from Sree Narayana College and the Kerala Law Academy. He is the son-in-law of the late communist ideologue P. Govinda Pillai and M. J. Rajamma, a Kerala University professor. In addition, he is related to poet Sugathakumari and former chief minister P. K. Vasudevan Nair. He also took part in and led the massive demonstration in the state Assembly in 2015. When then-Finance Minister V Sivankutty attempted to introduce the budget in 2015, he smashed furniture and microphones.

Education

He studied at Sree Narayan College in Chempazhanty and the Kerala Law Academy in Thiruvananthapuram with a BA. LLB and was a member of SFI (Students Federation of India) during his studies. He used to be a football player when he was a student. 

Political Career

Sivankutty began his political career with the Students' Federation of India (SFI), where he served as District President, State President, District Secretary, State Secretary, and All India Joint Secretary. He left SFI to join the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), where he presently serves as State Secretary and District President. He served as President of the former Ulloor Panchayat, Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joint Secretary of the All India Mayors' Council, MLA of Thiruvananthapuram East, and then Nemom (2011 - 2016). The BJP's Kummanam Rajasekharan and K. Muraleedharan won in the recently completed Kerala Assembly Elections to become the MLAs of Nemom again (2021-Present).

V. Sivankutty's Works and Achievements

V. Sivankutty served as an MLA and a seasoned CPM leader in Nemom. He has also worked at the Labor Department. In 2021, he defeated experienced BJP politician and former Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan from Nemom. K Muraleedharan, a Congress MP, was the other candidate. He has been focusing on making digital-online learning more accessible. He made some historic judgments on digital lecture broadcasting and has opted to take this step further.

Controversies

2015 Budget Presentation Commotion

After the Opposition MLAs tried to prevent the Finance Minister from presenting the budget, the Assembly witnessed some ugly scenes. His photo leading the protest with the cable, sound system, and monitor in hand has become so familiar. Sivankutty was the main leader who opposed and created panic in the assembly. Other accused in the case are minister K T Jaleel, E P Jayarajan, C K Sadasivan, K Ajith and Kunhahamed Master.Violent legislators had toppled the Speaker's chair and threw the microphones away. The House suffered damages worth 2 lakh in the incident. Charges against the accused include relevant section of Prevention of Destruction of Public Property Act and IPC sections 447 (criminal trespass) and 427 (mischief causing damage).

The government moved the court based on a letter filed by V. Sivankutty; several others, including Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, had filed petitions.

2023 Ambulance incident

On 12 July, 2023, while in the wrong direction, a pilot vehicle of Sivankutty's convoy hit a police jeep, which then rammed into an ambulance van. The incident caused injuries to three, including the mucormycosis patient. It happened in Kottarakkara in Kollam district when a driver from the minister's convoy was on the wrong side of the road. It was reported that Sivankutty reportedly disembarked and spent a few minutes. Inspection of the van followed and away he proceeded to Thiruvananthapuram. The victims said the police did not intervene or even register an FIR.

Other Departments Reporting to the Education Minister of Kerala 

The following are the departments reporting to the Kerala Education Minister- 

  1. Literacy Movement
  2. Employment and Training Skills
  3. Industrial Tribunals
  4. Rehabilitation
  5. Factories and Boilers
  6. Insurance Medical Service
  7. Labour Courts

Education Minister of Kerala: Roles and Responsibilities

Kerala is one of the top states in terms of educational excellence. Looking back in time, the literacy rate in India increased dramatically after 1991. He has lately taken the initiative in his Thrissur Town constituency. He took over 79 schools and more than 150 classrooms and converted them into high-tech study centers with high-speed internet and live projectors. It contributes to increasing kids' exposure to the globe. 

The following are some of the decisions made by the Kerala education department under the supervision of the education minister-

  1. The education department is in charge of categorizing schools based on a variety of variables.
  2. Kerala's education department also looks after private schools by supervising their pricing structures and will always be involved in the planning of new schools in places where they are needed.
  3. The education department is also responsible for the maintenance of existing schools.
  4. The Kerala education board publishes the rules and regulations governing student enrollment, transfers, and expulsion. These restrictions, however, are subject to change at any time.
  5. At the start of each academic year, the education department is responsible for notifying the attendance data, holiday dates, and vacation dates.
  6. The education department also conducts surprise inspections of schools to verify that all laws and regulations are being observed.
  7. All such schools are taken over by the education department, which ensures that the infrastructure is not squandered.
  8. Non-teaching personnel will be required in all schools. 
  9. The education department is responsible for hiring non-teaching personnel for all government and aided schools in Kerala.
  10. All government and aided schools would be recruited and paid for by the education department.

Education Minister of Kerala: Kerala's Current Education Plans

On October 26, 1998, Kerala started an ongoing education campaign with the motto "Education for all, and schooling for all eternity," six years after introducing the enviable theme of full-time education. Currently, the Kerala government has completely supported the KSLMA to begin learning, additional education, and a long-term learning program established and produced by the government.  The District Literacy Department is in charge of district-wide programs. Further Education Institutions operate as units within local government institutions around the country to provide equipment services. According to the latest papers of the Kerala Government's 12th Five Year Plan, the state is predicted to have 18 lakh illiterate people and another 12 lakh neo-illiterate people.  They discovered that illiterate funds were concentrated in urban slums, coastal locations, and traditional villages that needed special care. The National Literacy Mission's efforts to eradicate illiteracy under the Saakshar Bharat Scheme might be passed on to the nation, fishermen, and other marginalized people in the Kerala community. 

Education Minister of Kerala: Kerala Education Department

Kerala was one of the first states in the country to establish an education ministry in its cabinet of ministers. The state recognized the importance of education in the future. They established a large number of schools around the state. Today, we all know that Kerala has the highest literacy rate in India. It is because, in 1958, the Kerala government established a special cabinet for education. At the time, most other governments concentrated on building big and medium-sized enterprises. Kerala chose the most logical route, believing that developing large factories would be futile if there were no competent workers to fill them. As a result, they prioritized education, ensuring that nearly everyone in the state receives a formal education. The state has also met the objectives long before many other states established an education department.

Among them is- 

The Kerala Education Act of 1958 established the education department inside the cabinet of ministers. This act ensured that education would be given the greatest priority possible for future generations.

Education Minister of Kerala: Kerala's former Education Ministers

Professor Raveendranath is an Indian politician who serves as the Minister of General Education for Kerala in the Pinarayi Vijayan government. He is a Thrissur-based Communist Party of India (Marxist) politician who has served in Kerala's Puthukkad Assembly since 2011. He is, however, a retired chemistry professor from St. Thomas College in Trississur. He has also worked as a Total Literacy Program resource person, State Planning Board coordinator, and Human Settlements Program regional coordinator. In addition, he has received up to 150 lessons in 79 schools that have been turned into high-tech institutions.

Education Minister of Kerala: Colleges in Kerala

Kerala is well-known as India's educational powerhouse since it is the most literate state in the country. It boasts some of the greatest institutes, making it one of India's key academic centers. Kerala colleges offer education in a variety of fields, including science, engineering, business and management studies, information technology and software, architecture and planning, accounting and commerce, humanities and social sciences, agriculture, and so on, at the undergraduate, postgraduate, Ph.D., diploma, and certification levels. 

Kerala is home to some of the most well-known colleges in the country. The following are some of the colleges with their subjects-

Name of the College

Course Name 

Stream Name 

Calicut University, Calicut

Accounting and commerce, as well as science, humanities, and social sciences.

UG, PG, UG Diploma, PG Diploma, and Certificate

COE Trivandrum

Engineering, architecture, and planning, as well as information technology and software.

UG and PG

Government Engineering College, Thrissur

Engineering, architecture, and planning, as well as information technology and software.

UG and PG

IIIT Kottayam

Engineering

UG

IIM Kozhikode

IT and Software, Business and Management Studies

PG, PG Diploma and Certificate

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Education Minister of Kerala: Educational Reforms

Education in Kerala assimilates technology in teaching. 

Smart Classrooms: Smart classroom technologies began to embrace an interactive whiteboard, a projector, and tablets for more effective teaching. 
Digital Learning Platforms: Mobile apps with state sponsorship, linking access to all e-resources, qualified digital text and audio-visual materials, access to educational material, and tools as well as provision of digital textbooks. 
E-Governance in Education: Digitalization work at the back-office levels—here, the process involves online admission of students, digital attendance, and examination systems. 
Virtual Classrooms and Online Courses: Establishing a virtual classroom infrastructure that allows distance education, particularly in these times of the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure the continuity of education. 
ICT Labs: Establishing ICT labs within schools to have hands-on computer experience and the basics of programming. 
Programs to Enhance Teacher Training and Professional Development 
CPD Programs: Periodic training workshops and seminars on the latest teaching methodologies, classroom management techniques, and enhancement of subject-specific knowledge for teachers. 
Online Training Modules: Gradual introduction of online courses and modules that would provide flexible learning and self-paced professional development for teachers. 
Collaborations with Educational Institutions: Collaborations with universities and educational institutes to offer certification programs, advanced degrees, and specialized training. 
Teacher Exchange Programs: Programs to send teachers to other states or countries for them to learn and reciprocate best teaching practices showcased in other countries. 
Incentive Programs: Putting up a reward and recognition system for those teachers with excellent techniques of teaching and who in one way or other have influenced the success of students.

Differently-Abled Initiatives: For Inclusive Education 
 

Special Education Programs: Special curricula and development of learning resource materials with the principles that are designed to answer the needs of differently-abled students. 
Resource Centers and Support Services: Build resource centers for specialized support services, including those pertaining to speech therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological counseling. Such resource centers will have support staff to facilitate the smooth running of these services. 
Training for Special Education Teachers: Teachers should be trained in specialized education methodologies so that they can handle the diversified needs of differently abled students. 
Assistive Technologies: The provision of assistive technologies, such as screen readers, hearing aids, and adaptive software, will help differently abled students gain access to the educational content. 
Not just structures, inclusive infrastructure: School infrastructure has been ramped up for access to all by provision for ramps in schools, accessible toilet facilities, and tactile paths for the visually impaired students. 
Creating Awareness: Awareness programmes on inclusive education among students, teachers, and the community for a culture of acceptance and support.

Educational Innovation in Kerala 
 

Fundamentally, Kerala has been known for its learning standards, with highly admirable literacy levels and a strong public education system. In so doing, the enthusiasm for innovation in education in the state finally got its mark into this area of being at the frontier. In sum, the educational innovation initiative in this Indian State of Kerala involves:

It is the investment of the fruitful education policies and programs that have raised the literacy rate to one of the highest in India. Quality Education: Being characterized by quality education, the schools in Kerala are properly organized; the teachers are trained and curricula are regularly updated and relevant. Public-Private Collaboration: most trends of educational infrastructure and resource the collaborative effort of the government with the private sector. 
Community Involvement: Active participation of the local communities and parents in school management and decision-making processes has made the education system stronger.  Holistic Approach: The education system in Kerala encourages a holistic approach to learning; it is very observant of the development of a student not only academically but also in terms of physical, emotional, and even social welfare. 
Socially inclusive policies of the state ensure that every child, regardless of background or ability, has an opportunity for quality education. That way, the innovative approaches they carried out here could potentially become some sort of beacon for a lot of other states and countries with regard to lessons learned from strategic planning and community involvement rooted in inclusion and the quality of education.

 

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Kerala’s first education minister?

Ans. Kerala’s first Education Minister was Joseph Mundassery. He belonged to the EMS ministry.

Who is the current Kerala Education Minister?

Ans. In the current Pinarayi government, the education portfolio is handled by two ministers. R Bindu is in charge of Higher Education, while V Sivankutty is in charge of General. Kerala’s current education ministers are R Bindu (Higher Education) and V Sivankutty (General Education).

What is the office phone number of the Kerala Education Minister?

Ans. R Bindu (Minister of Higher Education) Office: 0471-2332868, 2327574, Residence: 0471-2334133, Mobile: 9447741385, E-mail: r.bindu@kerala.gov.in. V Sivankutty (General Education Minister), Office: 0471-2327574, 0471-2332868.

Who is Kerala’s second education minister?

Ans. P. P. Ummer Koya is Kerala’s second Education Minister. He was a member of the Pattom A. Thanu Pillai administration. From February 22, 1960, to September 26, 1962, he held the portfolio.

List some educational departments in Kerala.

Ans. Literacy Movement, Factories and Boilers, Insurance Medical Service, Labor Courts, Employment and Training Skills, Industrial Tribunals, and Rehabilitation.

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