Lower Primary School Teacher candidates are in their 36th day of protests outside the Kerala Secretariat, demanding immediate job appointments from the May 2025 rank list. With an indefinite hunger strike underway and symbolic demonstrations highlighting their frustration, candidates have rejected government proposals for a two-month delay. The standoff reflects broader concerns regarding recruitment transparency and the management of government-aided teaching vacancies.
The protest by Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) rank holders in Kerala has reached its 36th day as of August 10, 2026. Candidates have gathered outside the state Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram to press for immediate recruitment based on the rank list published in May 2025. The agitation has grown increasingly urgent, with participants resorting to symbolic demonstrations, including a grass-eating protest on August 8, to emphasize their frustration with the government's slow pace of hiring.
Escalating Demands and Hunger Strike
The movement is led by the All Kerala Lower Primary School Teacher Rank Holders' Association. Association secretary Valarmathi S has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 12 days to demand action. The protesters are not only seeking immediate job placements but also structural changes in how the state handles recruitment. Their primary demands include a more transparent system for reporting vacancies to the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC), the implementation of a 1:25 teacher-student ratio, and the protection of teaching posts that are currently at risk due to declining student enrollment in some schools.
Furthermore, the association is calling for significant policy shifts regarding aided schools. They want head teacher vacancies and other teaching posts in aided institutions—which are currently often filled through private management recruitment—to be brought under the purview of PSC recruitment. This, they argue, would ensure fairer access to jobs for qualified candidates.
Government Proposals Rejected
The state government has engaged with the protesters, proposing a two-month timeframe to conduct a thorough study of the issues raised. However, the rank holders have rejected this proposal, viewing it as a delaying tactic. The candidates maintain that their qualifications are valid and that the delays are causing them significant personal and professional distress as the shelf life of their rank list continues to tick away.
This protest is taking place against a backdrop of wider public concern regarding the integrity of recruitment processes in Kerala. The PSC has faced scrutiny recently, with investigations currently ongoing by the Crime Branch and a Special Investigation Team into alleged irregularities in various recruitment examinations. While the LPST candidates' demands are specific to their own appointments, the situation highlights a larger public debate about transparency and efficiency in government-led job creation.
Investors and citizens alike are watching the situation to see if the government will accelerate the appointment process or if the stalemate will continue. The next critical update will be whether the government offers a revised timeline or if negotiations break down further, potentially leading to more widespread demonstrations.