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Kerala's School Enrolment Drops to 36.4 Lakh in 2024-25; State's Higher Education GER at 41.3% vs National 28.4%

Social IssuesPolitySUPPORT
Target:UPSC GS-IMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
25 Feb 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:95.3% Literacy Rate36.4 Lakh School Enrolment41.3% Higher Education GER2.5 Lakh Student Emigrants (2023)
Bodies:Kerala State Literacy Mission AuthorityNITI AayogUniversity Grants CommissionNational Assessment and Accreditation Council
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.Kerala's total school enrolment dropped from 37.5 lakh (2023-24) to 36.4 lakh (2024-25), with the sharpest decline of 58,231 students in lower primary.

2.The state's higher education Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is 41.3% (7th highest nationally), significantly above the national average of 28.4%, with women constituting nearly two-thirds of enrolments.

3.A persistent governance crisis involves tussles between the Governor (as Chancellor) and the state government over Vice-Chancellor appointments, leaving 13 of 14 state universities without permanent VCs recently.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

Kerala's celebrated education model, built on a 200-year legacy of state-led universal education, is at a critical juncture. Despite high literacy (95.3%) and strong gender parity, the state faces declining school enrolments, a governance crisis in universities, and a 'brain drain' of students and faculty. This news is crucial for understanding the challenges of maintaining educational equity and quality in a developed regional model.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Kerala's Literacy Rate (2023-24)95.3%
School Enrolment 2024-2536.4 Lakh Students
Higher Education GER (Kerala)41.3% (National Avg: 28.4%)
Number of State Universities15
Student Emigrants (2023)~2.5 Lakh

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Kerala's Literacy Rate (2023-24): 95.3%
  • ›School Enrolment 2024-25: 36.4 Lakh Students
  • ›Target this Data: Kerala's literacy rate is 95.3% (2023-24 PLFS) and Higher Education GER is 41.3% (AISHE 2021-22).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: The Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority (KSLMA) works on literacy for marginalised groups.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: The Kerala Education Bill of 1957, introduced by the EMS Namboodiripad government, aimed to regulate private institutions.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

As per the article, which body's report noted that Kerala was ranked first in Sustainable Development Goals relating to education?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding Kerala's education system as discussed in the article:

1. The University of Travancore, established in 1937, was the first university in the region and was later renamed the University of Kerala.

2. The Kerala Education Bill of 1957, aimed at regulating private institutions, was passed without any opposition and did not contribute to political instability.

3. According to UDISE+ data for 2024-25, Kerala's dropout rate for high school students was lower than the all-India average.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the All India Survey of Higher Education 2021-22 cited in the article, what was Kerala's Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is identified as a primary objective of Kerala's recent 'Brain Gain' initiative mentioned in the article?

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