Tom Jose Calls for a Renaissance in Kerala’s Education System at Summit of the Future 2025

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Kochi: Tom Jose, former Chief Secretary of Kerala, delivered a powerful and thought-provoking keynote address at the Summit of the Future 2025, held at Jain Deemed-to-be University, Kochi. Speaking on the topic “Quo Vadis? We Need a Renaissance in Education,” Jose highlighted the critical flaws in Kerala’s education system and called for urgent reforms to transform it into a dynamic, evidence-based learning model.

 

“Our universities in Kerala compete with one another in mediocrity,” he remarked, setting the tone for a compelling analysis of the state’s education sector. Reflecting on his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of Calicut University, Jose shared how his time was often consumed by administrative challenges, such as signing certificates, navigating politically charged university syndicates, and addressing student riots. “Is this what we want for our children? For the generations to come?” he asked, urging the audience to reconsider the priorities of the current system.

Jose was unapologetic in labeling Kerala’s education system “a failure,” referencing the book Kerala: 1956 to the Present by Tirthankar Roy and K. Ravi Raman. He pointed to a severe mismatch between the skills required by industries and what educational institutions deliver. “The failure begins at the roots, with poorly paid primary school teachers,” he emphasized, adding, “If we continue to give peanuts, we will only get monkeys. The foundation of education starts in primary schools, yet we undervalue the very people who shape young minds.”

 

Drawing a parallel to the Renaissance, which transformed Europe through innovation, art, and inquiry, Jose called for a similar awakening in Kerala. “The Renaissance gave us Raphael, Da Vinci, Copernicus, and Columbus. Kerala needs its own Renaissance in education—an awakening that values innovation, inquiry, and evidence-based learning,” he stated.

 

He also criticized socio-political and cultural institutions for perpetuating mediocrity and ignorance. “Our institutions actively ensure that people remain at a certain level of ignorance. The objective of education should be to eradicate ignorance and develop enquiring minds. Without evidence-based learning, we are going nowhere,” he said.

 

Jose proposed eight actionable steps to address the systemic issues plaguing the education system:

  1. Embrace technology by integrating AI, smart education tools, and digitalization for personalized learning.
  2. Focus on lifelong learning with skill-based education that evolves with market demands.
  3. Foster a culture of debate, discussion, and critical thinking in universities.
  4. Engage experts and policy influencers in governance to implement effective policy shifts.
  5. Recognize and reward creativity and innovation to celebrate fresh ideas.
  6. Strengthen research by investing in better facilities for research and development.
  7. Adopt evidence-based learning, starting from primary education and extending across all levels.
  8. Sensitize civil society to curb the over-politicization of education, which he described as turning university syndicates into “marketplaces.”

Jose also expressed concern over the growing culture of disrespect within educational institutions. “When student leaders begin abusing teachers and principals, we need to ask ourselves—what have we normalized? Over-politicization can only be addressed through awareness and accountability,” he noted.

 

He concluded his address with a poignant quote from Rabindranath Tagore: “Do not limit a child to your own learning, for he or she was born in another time.”

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