Thiruvananthapuram, 11 August (H.S.): The indefinite hunger strike by Valarmathi S, secretary of the All Kerala Lower Primary School Teacher Rank Holders’ Association, was called off on Tuesday after Education Minister N Samsudheen met the protesters and sought 45 days to examine their demands and address the issues raised by them.

Valarmathi, who had been on an indefinite fast for 13 days, ended her hunger strike by drinking water offered by the minister. The association, however, said its peaceful agitation would continue until concrete steps are taken to resolve the concerns of LPST rank holders.

The Kerala Public Service Commission rank holders have been protesting outside the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram for more than a month, seeking appointments from the LPST rank list published in May 2025.

Their primary demand is that the government begin appointments from the existing rank list without further delay. The protesters have also sought greater transparency in identifying and reporting vacancies, arguing that schools should promptly notify vacant teaching posts to the PSC so that appointments can be made in a timely manner.

The association has demanded that the teacher-student ratio be maintained at 1:25, which it says would help safeguard teaching posts and create more appointment opportunities.

Among its other demands is the inclusion of head teacher vacancies under PSC recruitment. The rank holders have also called for an end to direct recruitment of teachers by aided school managements and want such appointments to be brought under the PSC recruitment system.

The protesters have further sought measures to protect teaching posts that could be affected by reductions in the number of student divisions in schools.

They have also demanded an extension of the validity of the existing LPST rank list if appointments are delayed further.

With the minister seeking 45 days to examine the demands, the association has temporarily ended the hunger strike while keeping its broader protest campaign alive.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman