Kerala bars religion based names for future government schools, colleges

The Kerala government has decided that all new government-run educational institutions will no longer carry religion-based names, reinforcing what it calls the secular character of public education.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. As per the Chief Minister’s Office, any new government school, college, university, or other state-owned institution set up in the future must avoid names associated with any particular religion.

In Kerala, religion-linked names are common, especially among aided and private institutions managed by religious bodies. For example, Christian-run institutions often carry names such as St. Thomas , St. Mary , or Sacred Heart . Colleges like St. Thomas College, Thrissur and Sacred Heart College, Thevara reflect this pattern. Similarly, some institutions are named after Islamic scholars or leaders, while others bear names linked to Hindu spiritual figures or temples, such as Sree Narayana College, Kollam, named after social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.

While most such names are found in aided or private colleges and schools, the government’s new policy makes it clear that future state-run institutions will avoid religion-based naming altogether .

Importantly, the decision applies only to institutions established in the future . There will be no renaming of existing government institutions , even if they currently have religion-linked names. This clarification is expected to prevent controversy and administrative complications.

The Cabinet also approved in principle the report of the Justice J B Koshy Commission, which studied issues related to the educational and economic backwardness of Christian minorities in the state.

The move underscores the government’s emphasis on ensuring that public institutions reflect constitutional values of equality, inclusiveness, and secularism , while leaving private and aided institutions free to follow their existing naming traditions.