Kochi: The Catholic Congress has come out strongly against the state government, accusing Education Minister of spreading malicious propaganda under the guise of teacher recruitment. The organization alleged that the government is deliberately using the issue of appointments for differently-abled candidates as a smokescreen to conceal what it described as an “undeclared ban” on teacher recruitment in aided schools.
According to Catholic Congress leaders, the Education Minister’s statements are not only misleading but also driven by vested political interests. They charged that the minister is attempting to polarize society along communal lines by projecting Catholic school managements as being opposed to differently-abled candidates, while deliberately ignoring the broader injustice of withholding approval for regular teacher appointments.
The Congress pointed out that the minister’s narrative creates a false perception in the public mind that Catholic institutions are obstructing opportunities for the differently-abled. In reality, they argued, the government has failed to approve even ordinary teacher appointments, causing immense hardship to teachers who remain unpaid. This selective targeting, they warned, amounts to creating anti-Christian sentiment in society and distracting from the real issue.
The Catholic Congress further accused the government of turning a blind eye to the severe human cost of the recruitment freeze. Families of teachers awaiting approval are reportedly struggling with hunger, and instances of suicides linked to financial despair have already been reported. “When education is enshrined as a fundamental right, denying approval to teachers who deliver that very right is unconstitutional,” the organization stressed.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s ruling in the NSS case, Catholic Congress leaders said the Education Minister’s claim that the judgment is not applicable in other cases is both selective and misleading. They described this stance as part of a broader agenda aimed at dividing communities and undermining the state’s education sector with malicious intent.
The Catholic Congress issued a stern warning that if the government continues to pursue communal polarization for political gain, it will invite grave consequences. To counter what they called the government’s “double standards,” the organization announced the launch of a ‘Rights Protection March’ across Kerala from October 13 to 24. Through this mass movement, they said, the truth about the government’s policies would be exposed, and a strong struggle for justice and rights would be waged.
The Catholic Congress reiterated that the education minister must clarify his position and stop misleading the people. “The government cannot suppress truth with propaganda. The rights of teachers and the integrity of the education sector must be protected at all costs,” the statement concluded.