Kerala ahead in enrolment of Muslim students in schools

KOCHI: Enrolment of Muslim students in primary and upper primary schools in Kerala has gone up by 23% to 25% in the last eight years. The increase at the national level is just 5%. The same disparity is reflected at the secondary and higher secondary levels.
The Centre began collecting information on enrolment of Muslim children in schools in 2006-07.The number of Muslim students in primary classes (I to IV) in Kerala was 1.6 lakh or 10% of the total number of students in this segment then. The national average then was 9%.
In 2013-14, 6.89 lakh students enrolled in classes I to IV in the state are Muslim, that is, almost 35% of the total. The national average is 14%.
These stats are based on Elementary Education in India: Trends (2005-06 to 2013-14) released by National University of Educational Planning & Administration (NUEPA) this month. The report was prepared by analyzing data collected for District Information System for Education (DISE) from 2005 to date.
The increase in enrolment of Muslim students in the state is also evident in upper primary classes (V to VIII). Of the total 13.42 lakh students enrolled in 2006-07 only 10% (1.3 lakh) were Muslims. It rose to 33% in 2013-2014 -- 7.03 lakh Muslim students.
In contrast, the national average of Muslim enrolment in upper primary classes jumped from 8% in 2006-07 to just 13% last year.
State education minister P K Abdu Rabb attributed increase in Kerala enrolments to increased awareness among the Muslim community.
“Earlier, community members were not interested in educating their children. But that mindset has changed and now not only have enrolments increased at the elementary level but even the dropout ratio in higher classes has drastically dropped.’’
While 31% Muslim students were enrolled in secondary schools in the state in 2013-14, the national average was just 10%. Muslim enrolment in higher secondary schools during this period in Kerala was 23% against the national average of 8%.
Implementation of the Right to Education Act has also ensured that no children are out of school, especially at the elementary level.