Thiruvananthapuram, August 11
The indefinite hunger strike by Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) rank holders in Kerala was called off on Tuesday after Education Minister N Samsudheen intervened and sought 45 days to examine their demands and take steps to address the issues raised by them.
Valarmathi S, secretary of the All Kerala Lower Primary School Teacher Rank Holders’ Association, ended her 13-day fast by drinking water offered by the minister. The association, however, made it clear that its peaceful agitation would continue until concrete action is taken on its demands.
LPST rank holders have been protesting outside the Kerala Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram for more than a month, demanding appointments from the rank list published by the Kerala Public Service Commission in May 2025.
A key demand of the protesters is that appointments from the existing rank list should begin without further delay. They have also sought a transparent mechanism for identifying and reporting vacancies, with schools required to promptly notify the PSC about vacant teaching posts.
The association has demanded that the teacher-student ratio be maintained at 1:25, arguing that the measure would protect existing teaching posts while opening up more appointment opportunities for candidates on the rank list.
The protesters have also sought to bring head teacher vacancies under PSC recruitment. They want the government to end direct recruitment of teachers by aided school managements and bring such appointments within the ambit of the PSC.
Another major concern raised by the rank holders is the possible loss of teaching posts due to reductions in student divisions in schools. They have urged the government to introduce safeguards to protect such posts.
The association has also sought an extension of the validity of the existing rank list if appointments are further delayed.
Following the minister’s intervention, the hunger strike has been withdrawn, while the association will continue its broader protest pending government action.
