Kerala Examining Supreme Court Verdict on Opening New LP/UP Schools: Sivankutty

Thiruvananthapuram: Education Minister V. Sivankutty said the state government is seriously examining the Supreme Court verdict directing that LP and UP schools be immediately established in areas where such schools do not exist. He was speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram. The government respects the verdict in the case related to approving a school in Elambra, Malappuram. However, considering certain observations in the judgement, the government is actively considering filing a review petition, the minister said.

He added that the situation in Kerala cannot be compared to that of North Indian states in terms of educational facilities. According to data from the National Statistical Office and NITI Aayog, Kerala is far ahead in education. With 100% literacy, Kerala ranks first in India, while the national average remains significantly lower. In most residential areas of Kerala, government or aided schools are available within a 1–2 km radius.

School dropout rates in Kerala are almost zero—far better than national figures. This means no child in Kerala is denied education due to the absence of a school. In Elambra, Malappuram, the local body has offered free land and a building for establishing a school, and the government will consider this as a special case.

The government is committed to implementing the Right to Education Act, but it must be done scientifically and practically, he said. Compared to other Indian states, Kerala’s public education sector stands strong, supported by the Union Education Ministry’s UDISE plus reports and the latest PGI indices.

When the number of schools in the country is compared with population figures, Kerala’s quality-focused approach becomes evident. Uttar Pradesh, with a population of over 24 crore, has about 250,000 schools, but the student load per school is extremely high. Bihar, with a population of over 13 crore, has only 93,000 schools—far too few for its population, leading to overcrowded classrooms, according to the data.

Kerala, with a population of just 3.5 crore, has around 16,000 schools. Kerala prioritizes individual attention and facilities for each student over merely increasing the number of schools, the minister clarified.

Kerala is far ahead of the national average in teacher–student ratio and infrastructure. The state also ranks among the top in the Performance Grading Index (PGI), which evaluates not just the number of schools but also learning quality, facilities, and equity. Maintaining a top-tier position in this index is a matter of pride, he said.

Kerala performs strongly alongside states like Punjab and Chandigarh in areas such as literacy, teacher training, and physical infrastructure. The state’s policy is not to simply increase the number of schools, but to upgrade existing schools to international standards. Kerala is a model for the nation in terms of comprehensive quality in school education, Minister V. Sivankutty stated.