12-05-2025
13% increase in students from outside State in Kerala schools
The number of students from other States enrolled in government and aided schools across Kerala from Classes I to X has increased by over 13% from 2023-24 to 2024-25.
As per data from the Directorate of General Education, the total number of inter-State migrants in government, aided, and unaided schools in the State in 2023-24 was 21,299. This rose to 24,525 in 2024-25, up by 15.14%.
The total number of non-Keralite students in government and aided schools was 20,911 (8,490 in government and 12,421 in aided) in 2023-24. This went up to 23,637 (10,018 in government and 13,619 in aided schools) in 2024-25.
In government schools alone, the increase was 18%. In aided schools, it was slightly less at 9.65%.
The number of students in unaided schools went up from 388 to 888 during this period, an increase of a whopping 128.86%.
Composition of students
Other than neighbouring Tamil Nadu, students from Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh constituted a chunk of the inter-State migrants studying in schools in the State. In 2023-24, they totalled 11,394 students, with Assamese students having the largest presence (3,161), followed by West Bengal (3,032), Bihar (2,631) and Uttar Pradesh (2,570).
In 2024-25, the number of students from these States went up to 13,751. Assamese students again were the most in number – 3.882, followed by West Bengal with 3,758, Bihar with 3,380, and Uttar Pradesh with 2,731.
The highest increase was in the number of students from Bihar – 28.4%. The number of students from Assam and West Bengal rose by 22.8% and 24%. respectively.
The biggest segment among inter-State students was that of children hailing from Tamil Nadu, though their numbers remained unchanged.
Students from Karnataka, Jharkhand, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kashmir, and Manipur also studied in the State.
Nepal
Nepal was home for most students hailing from other countries. In 2023-24, the number of students from other countries was 340, of which Nepalese students accounted for 333. Of the 336 students of various nationalities studying in schools in the State in 2024-25, students from Nepal totalled 332. Students from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and the Maldives accounted for other foreign students. In 2023-24, students from Russia, the UAE, and Kuwait too studied here.
