A recent NITI Aayog report reveals that Kerala’s higher education sector has potential, but it needs major improvements in quality. The report calls for actions to boost the quality of education and educational institutions across the state.
Kerala’s Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is 41.3%. This is higher than the national average of 28.4%. However, Tamil Nadu has a GER of 47%, and Himachal Pradesh has 43%, both surpassing Kerala. On the other hand, Kerala falls below the national average in the Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR), an important measure of educational quality. Kerala’s PTR is 15%, much lower than the national average of 23%. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana each have a PTR of 16%, ahead of Kerala. Regarding the percentage of accredited universities, Kerala has only 35%, while Tamil Nadu has 76%.
Kerala has 23 universities, including 1 Central University, 6 Institutions of National Importance, and 14 State Universities. The state spends a high amount on education, 3.46% of its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). It also has innovative digital learning initiatives. Kerala’s Gender Parity Index (GPI) is 1.44, meaning there are more female students than male students.
Still, challenges remain. It’s difficult to ensure equal access to education, especially in rural areas. Also, there is a need to improve quality through technology and new teaching methods. The large number of vacant seats in the state’s educational institutions shows that the higher education sector is in crisis.
In the 2023 – 2024 academic year, 9,793 seats were vacant in the 148 colleges affiliated with Kerala University. Of these, 503 were in government colleges, 3,092 in aided colleges, and 6,198 in unaided colleges. Across all the state’s universities, 88,552 seats were vacant in self – financing arts and science colleges, aided colleges, and government colleges during that year.
The state government plans to launch a “Study in Kerala” scheme to attract international students. It has also introduced the Kerala Institutional Ranking Framework (KIRF) to promote excellence in higher education.
The national average university and college density is 0.8. Sikkim has the highest density at 10.3, followed by some sparsely populated regions. In highly populated states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra, the density is below the national average, with Bihar having the lowest at 0.2. Kerala’s university density is 0.8%. Tamil Nadu has 0.9%, Karnataka 1.1%, and Andhra Pradesh 0.9%, all higher than Kerala. This shows that while the number of universities and colleges is growing, their distribution among the population is uneven, especially in populous states.
When it comes to the density of state public universities, Kerala’s 0.4% is behind Karnataka’s 0.5%, Andhra Pradesh’s 0.5%, and Jammu Kashmir’s 0.6%.
Based on the NIRK ranking report 2024 for universities, in the top 100 universities across India, Kerala has 4%, far behind Tamil Nadu with 22%, Karnataka with 11%, Maharashtra with 10%, Uttar Pradesh with 9%, Punjab with 7%, and Andhra Pradesh with 5%.
To improve Kerala’s higher education sector, efforts should focus on increasing university density, especially in rural areas. Initiatives should also aim to boost the GER and GPI, ensuring equal access for all. Additionally, policies need to reduce disparities in access and outcomes across different regions and communities in the state.
RS Sasikumar, convenor of the save universities campaign committee, said, “There are disagreements that Kerala is the hub of higher education. But this is just to distract from the poor state of higher education. Many students from the state go to other states and countries for education. Forty percent of degree seats and thirty percent of postgraduate seats are vacant in the state’s higher educational institutions. The main reasons for the brain drain are the outdated syllabus, lack of good teachers, and an inefficient administrative system.” Sasikumar also criticized Kerala’s supposed growth, noting that out of 14 universities, only three have an A double plus rating.
Dr J Prabhash, a former Pro Vice Chancellor of Kerala University and an education expert, said, “We must enhance the quality of education. Kerala needs to shift from quantity to quality. The state should increase spending on education and the social sector. Improving the quality of teachers, syllabus, starting new courses, strengthening the evaluation system, and using appropriate technology are all part of this. We should start with improving school education.” He also suggested creating a few centres of excellence and linking surrounding institutions to them. Dr Prabhash added that Kerala’s claims of a strong higher education sector are only valid when compared to states with much worse education systems.
Eminent economist Dr PA Mathew said, “Kerala’s higher education sector is at a critical point. The government needs to invest, but has limited resources. It can’t spend much on building new institutions or improving existing ones. Central funds and KIFFB have helped with infrastructure, but the focus has been on revenue spending, like hiring new employees to satisfy party loyalists. The private sector, which could help, is reluctant to invest because it lacks confidence in government policies. In Kerala, dominant caste groups control higher education and focus on protecting existing institutions instead of making new investments. This has led to a brain drain. In contrast, neighboring states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are growing in higher education by welcoming private investment and innovation. Kerala’s restrictive approach is holding back progress, and the government must change its strategy.”
Noted demographer S Irudayarajan said the state government should study what is wrong with the higher education sector. It should find out if the problem lies with the syllabus, faculty, or other factors. “We should investigate why students leave the state to study courses that are available here. For example, why do they go to a college in Bangalore to study BA Economics when they can study it in Kerala? ” he asked. He also pointed out that the emergence of a new middle class, which wants to send its children abroad for education and settlement, is another factor influencing students to migrate to foreign countries.
