Declining student strength in Kerala's schools.

* Prime reason for the decline in students' strength is the big drop in the state's population

* Migration of youth to foreign shores

* Decrease in fertility rate from 1.9 a few years ago to 1.6

* Increase in number of smaller families with no more than two children and youngsters choosing

   not to marry

According to the International Institute of Migration and Development, Kerala, Most of the youth prefer to settle down in the countries they have migrated to. So besides empty houses, the state will soon have to face a situation of empty schools.

Kerala today has a total of 12,974 schools catering to the educational needs of the children till high school. This excludes higher secondary and vocational higher secondary schools. The days of exclusive schools for boys and girls are over. They are no longer practical. Another thing is that even when they are converted to mixed schools, there is no guarantee that they will be able to tide over the shortage of students. This is because other co-ed schools, too, are struggling with a drop in student strength.

Till the end of the 2022 academic year, the state had 280 girls schools and 164 boys schools in the government and aided sectors but now the numbers are coming down. This year itself 45 schools turned co-ed.

Courtesy. Excerpts from Anu Kuruvilla's article in the NIE

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready only by a quarter past 10.

A quiet Sunday.

Washed down the Chevy with Lekha's help in the evening.