S Valarmathi, secretary of the All Kerala Lower Primary School Teacher Rank Holders’ Association, shaved her head and announced an indefinite hunger strike on Monday outside the Kerala Secretariat, marking the 113th day of protests over stalled teacher appointments.
The rankholders, numbering over 5,000 teachers, accuse the Kerala Public Service Commission of ignoring the May 2025 rank list and have demanded a reduction in the student‑teacher ratio from 1:30 to 1:25, bringing Head Teacher Vacancy appointments under the PSC, extending the list’s validity, and postponing a new recruitment drive until current vacancies are filled.
In August, Valarmathi ended a 13‑day fast after a meeting with Education Minister N Shamsuddeen, who offered 45 days to review the demands; on September 30, the government said it would report head‑teacher posts above 150 students to the PSC and consider extending the list, but the latest escalation shows the teachers remain dissatisfied.
According to a statement from the Education Ministry, a cabinet meeting will take place on Tuesday to discuss the rank holders’ demands and outline a timetable for filling vacancies, after which the teachers will decide whether to resume or end the strike.