Row over CM’s mega quiz rages on

The row over ‘Vijnana Yatra – Chief Minister’s Mega Quiz’, a State-wide knowledge initiative, continues to rage on with teachers’ organisations affiliated to the Opposition demanding that it be withdrawn.

The Kerala Pradesh School Teachers’ Association (KPSTA) questioned the timing of the quiz with SSLC and higher secondary examinations set to begin in March. There is political agenda behind holding such programmes that would push the students to more hardship, the KPSTA said in a statement on Monday.

It also objected to the nature of the questions, alleging that they pertained to schemes that could not be implemented and things that had to be withdrawn owing to public pressure. Any bid to impose the quiz on students would be resisted, it added.

Alleging politicisation of education, an Aided Higher Secondary Teachers’ Association representative pointed out that instead of improving knowledge, the quiz had become an advertisement of the government’s development achievements.

However, the pro-Left Kerala School Teachers’ Association (KSTA) alleged that “baseless” allegations were being raised to stir a controversy. It said that posers related to initiatives launched during the United Democratic Front (UDF) rule such as She Taxi, Karunya, and Startup Mission were also asked in the quiz. When attempts to dig up errors in questions or answers failed, claims of bias are being raised, the KSTA said in a statement.