India, Dec. 10 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
States
Years
All/ST
Elementary (I-VIII)
Secondary (IX-X)
Higher Secondary (XI-XII)
Girls
Boys
Overall
Girls
Boys
Overall
Girls
Boys
Overall
Kerala
2017-18
All
97.02
97.76
97.4
98.48
99.76
99.13
82.37
71.88
77
ST
99.49
101.91
100.73
108.37
114.43
111.42
92.43
74.94
83.45
2018-19
All
97.77
97.99
97.88
97.41
98.51
97.97
84.85
75.91
80.27
ST
103.28
104.71
104.02
114.04
118.16
116.11
92.45
79.97
86.04
2019-20
All
98.95
99.33
99.14
96.7
97.59
97.16
87.08
79.08
82.99
ST
96.94
97.91
97.44
102.95
108.45
105.71
91.3
81.12
86.07
2020-21
All
99.29
99.45
99.38
97.26
97.82
97.55
88.01
80.47
84.15
ST
94.6
95.48
95.05
101.58
107.5
104.55
92.19
80.53
86.21
2021-22
All
100.7
101.33
101.02
97.41
98.27
97.85
88.4
81.82
85.04
ST
94.62
95.6
95.13
103.15
108.9
106.04
97.85
88.19
92.9
2022-23
All
98
98.3
98.1
97.2
97
97.2
89.7
85.2
87.4
ST
90.7
91.7
91.2
99.1
104.9
102
106.8
97.3
101.9
2023-24
All
97.5
97.3
97.4
99.1
98.8
98.9
90.2
86
88.1
ST
91.8
91.1
91.5
95.7
103.4
99.6
100.7
89.9
95.2
2024-25
All
95.9
94.9
95.4
99.4
98.1
98.7
91.7
87.3
89.5
ST
94.3
92.2
93.2
99.5
105.7
102.6
97.5
86.2
91.7
ALL
ST
States
Year
Male
Female
Both
Male
Female
Both
Kerala
2012-13
18.5
25.8
22.1
12.9
15.2
14.1
2013-14
21.1
28.7
24.9
13
16.2
14.7
2014-15
24.1
33.3
28.7
12.7
17.3
15.1
2015-16
26.6
35
30.8
13.6
19.2
16.5
2016-17
28.3
40.1
34.2
15.4
21
18.3
2017-18
29.6
38.7
34
16.1
24.3
20.3
2018-19
28.2
41.1
34.5
17.3
25.8
21.6
2019-20
29.8
42.3
35.9
17.7
27.6
22.7
2020-21
34.5
52.3
43.2
23.1
35.1
29.1
2021-22
34.1
49
41.3
24
33.8
28.9
2022-23(p)
31.8
46.9
39.1
22.4
33.5
27.9
Kerala Drop Out Rates and GER
States
Year
All/ST
Primary Drop Out Rate
Upper Primary Drop Out Rate
Secondary Drop Out Rate
Girls
Boys
Overall
Girls
Boys
Overall
Girls
Boys
Overall
Kerala
2017-18
All
0.31
0
0.14
0.03
0
0
9.47
14.48
12.04
ST
2.78
1.53
2.14
0
0
0
16.45
18.44
17.45
2018-19
All
0
0.34
0.15
0
0.12
0
6.83
11.32
9.14
ST
0
0
0
0
0
0
12.57
17.66
15.2
2019-20
All
0
0
0
0
0
0
5.92
9.83
7.93
ST
6.54
5.83
6.18
6.44
8.43
7.48
19.27
20.93
20.12
2020-21
All
0
0.11
0.02
0
0
0
4.85
9.14
7.05
ST
1.14
2.14
1.65
3.31
1.65
2.45
10.99
15.85
13.49
2021-22
All
0
0
0
0
0
0
4.06
6.85
5.49
ST
0.6
0
0.04
0
0.92
0
6.47
9.1
7.83
Replying to an un-starred question today in Rajya Sabha the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed that the Gender wise Gross Enrolment Ratio of Tribal Students at school level in the State of Kerala is given in appendix 1
The Gender wise Gross Enrolment Ratio of Tribal Students for Higher Studies in the State of Kerala is given in appendix 2
the gender-wise and grade-wise data at school level dropouts among tribal students in the State in Kerala is given in appendix 3
Ministry of Tribal Affairs has many schemes for the welfare of STs. Two schemes Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), Pre & Post Matric Scholarship Schemes, NGO and DAJGUA help in preventing drop out by Scheduled Tribes Students.
After the EFC cycle Evaluation studies of the schemes EMRS, NGO and Scholarship were conducted by MoTA. To stem dropout Government has designed initiatives in all states including Kerala. A few are listed below: -
i. EMRS
To provide quality education to Tribal students, the Government has decided to establish 728 Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons as per 2011 census. There are four EMRS schools in Kerala. They are situated in Idukki, Kasargod, Palakkad and Wayanad districts which have sizable tribal population.
ii. Scholarship for ST Students
The Ministry is implementing five scholarship schemes for delivery of better educational opportunities.
i. Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class IX and X)
ii. Post Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class XI and above)
iii. National Fellowship for Higher Education for ST students.
iv. National Scholarship for Higher Education for ST students (Top Class)
v. National Overseas Scholarship for ST students.
These schemes help in fulfilling the educational aspiration of the STs Communities. Pre Matric and Post Matric schemes help to reduce drop put rate and promote school retention. The schemes are monitored for timely fund disbursal, accurate beneficiary coverage, there by having a major impact on school level dropout reduction.
For Pre matric Scholarship in the year 2021-22, 7071 beneficiaries, 2022-23, 7604 beneficiaries 2023-24, 7323 beneficiaries and 2024-25, 10312 beneficiaries availed benefits in Kerala.
For Post-matric Scholarship schemes for the year 2021-22 10558 beneficiaries, 2022-23, 16232 beneficiaries and 2023-24, 15400 beneficiaries availed benefits.
iii Grants in Aid to Voluntary Organizations and DAJGUA
Grants in Aid to Voluntary Organizations: Under the scheme, fund is provided to Voluntary Organizations to run residential, non-residential schools and hostels and also support educational complexes for ST girls in low literacy districts (as defined in Census 2011).
DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: Under DAJGUA, one of the interventions is construction of 1000 hostels under Samagra Shiksha which is being implemented by Ministry of Education. Further, upgradation & improving infrastructure of Hostels, Govt./State Tribal Residential schools is also covered under the Abhiyan which is to be considered by Ministry of Tribal Affairs based on the proposals from State Governments.
The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in partnership with UNICEF India launched TALASH (Tribal Aptitude, Life Skills and Self-Esteem Hub), a national- program to support the all-round development of students in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs). The initiative offers Psychometric Assessments, Career Counselling, Life Skills & Self-Esteem Modules, E-Learning for Teachers in EMRS Schools.
EMRSs of Kerala have shown notable performance at the National Sports
Meet 2025. The students secured:
∙Athletics: 3 Gold, 2 Silver, and 1 Bronze
∙Taekwondo: 3 Bronze
∙Archery: 1 Silver and 1 Bronze
∙Football: Bronze medal
Further, to provide specialized and advanced training to tribal students, an Archery Training Centre is being established in one of the EMRSs of Kerala by the Archery Association of India, in collaboration with NESTS.
Tribal students from Kerala also actively participate in the National Level Cultural Fest and Kala Utsav, showcasing their talents in various cultural and artistic events.
By incorporating holistic programme along with academic initiatives, the Government will be able to identify tribal student dropout and bring them back to education stream.
Appendix 1
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1256 for 10.12.2025 by Smt. Jebi Mather Hisham regarding "Participation and dropouts among ST Students in Kerala"
Gross Enrolment Ratio of Tribal Students at school level in the State of Kerala
Source U-dise plus, DOSEL, Ministry of Education
*GER (Gross Enrolment Ratio) -Total enrolment in a particular level of school education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the Population of the official age-group which corresponds to the given level of school education in a given school year.
Appendix 2
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1256 for 10.12.2025 by Smt. Jebi Mather Hisham regarding "Participation and dropouts among ST Students in Kerala"
Gross Enrolment Ratio of Tribal Students for Higher Studies in the State of Kerala
Source Higher Education (AISHE)
*GER (Gross Enrolment Ratio) -Total enrolment in a particular level of education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the population of the official age-group which corresponds to the given level of school education in a given school year.
Appendix 3
Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1256 for 10.12.2025 by Smt. Jebi Mather Hisham regarding "Participation and dropouts among ST Students in Kerala"
Dropout Ratio among tribal school students in the State Kerala
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
