Kerala Urged to Raise Education Standards to Retain Students
Kerala is witnessing a rising number of students leaving the state for better educational opportunities. Experts stress the urgent need to modernize the academic system to reverse this trend.
Growing Concern Over Student Exodus
Despite Kerala’s historically strong education system, a troubling trend has emerged—students are migrating to other Indian states and abroad in search of better academic and career opportunities. According to a recent conference of education leaders, this “brain drain” is rooted in issues such as outdated curricula, insufficient career-oriented programs, and limited research funding. The lack of globally competitive courses is forcing thousands of students to explore options in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and countries
Calls for a Systemic Overhaul
Speakers at the meet urged the government to take proactive steps to revamp the education system. They emphasized modernizing syllabi with digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and emerging tech courses to meet global standards. Improving university infrastructure, upgrading laboratories, and encouraging industry-academia partnerships were among the suggestions. Additionally, ensuring that students have access to modern skills like AI, data science, and robotics could help Kerala keep pace with the evolving global job market.
Turning a Challenge Into Opportunity
Kerala’s reputation as a literate and forward-thinking state gives it a strong foundation to initiate this transformation. Experts suggested setting up a central education reform committee, offering scholarships to local students, and promoting Kerala as a global study destination. If acted upon swiftly, these reforms could not only retain homegrown talent but also attract students from across the country, turning Kerala into a knowledge capital.
