Education
Women's education is not only the key to development, but also for bringing up peace, prosperity, harmony and co-operation in the society. Literacy and other education programmes for women, therefore assumes the highest importance in the planning for development of any nation.
Kerala has built a tradition for female education since the beginning of the 19th Century. Western education was introduced as early as the beginning of the 19th century, especially under the patronage of the rulers of Travancore and the initiative of Christian Missionaries. School education in Travancore was compulsory for children in the age group of 5-10 without any gender discrimination. Therefore, Kerala leads the other states of India in women’s education and literacy. 85% of women in Kerala are literate, and girls outnumber boys in higher education.
The enrolment of girl students at school level in Kerala is the highest in the country with more than 49% of the total enrolment. During the year 2007-08, girls had constituted 49.19 percent of the total enrolment in school education in Kerala. Out of the total 5.40 lakh students enrolled in LPS 2.67 lakh are girls. In the upper primary and high school girls comprised of 2.03 lakh and 2.24 lakh respectively.
Enrolment of Students in Government Schools
(2007-08)
|
| |
LPS
(I-IV) |
UPS
(V-VII) |
High
School (VIII-IX) |
Grand
Total |
Boys |
273101 |
212202 |
232947 |
718250 |
Girls |
267774 |
203056 |
224688 |
695518 |
Total |
540875 |
415258 |
457635 |
1413768 |
| Source:
Directorate of Public Instruction, 2007 |
Besides,
out of the 46998 studying in Vocational Higher
Secondary Schools, 51.86 percent are girls (24375).
At the graduate and post graduate level also girls
topped the list with 66% and 78.19 percent in
the year 2007-08.
Enrolment of Students in Arts and Science
Colleges (2007-08)
|
| Name
of the Course |
Boys |
Girls |
Total |
| BA |
21286
(33.14%) |
42958
(66.86%) |
64244
(100%) |
| B.Sc |
18811(29.85%) |
44210
(70.15%) |
63021 (100%) |
| B.Com |
11513
(47%) |
13005
(53%) |
24518
(100%) |
| Sub
Total |
51610
(34%) |
100173
(66%) |
151783 (100%) |
| MA |
1514 (20.2%) |
6001
(79.8%) |
7515
(100%) |
| M.Sc |
2079 (21%) |
7855 (79%) |
9934
(100%) |
| M.Com |
940
(28.2%) |
2401 (71.8%) |
3341
(100%) |
| Sub
Total |
4533
(21.8%) |
16257
(78.19%) |
20790
(100%) |
| Source:
Directorate of Collegiate Education, Thiruvananthapuram |
From the figures, it was evident that the Government of Kerala is committed to bring about basic change in the status of women through education. In spite of this, the government laid emphasis on enrolling and retention of girl in normal schooling and non-formal education.
The relatively high literacy and education level in Kerala, particularly among women paved the way for several socio-cultural movements in the State that created widespread social awareness and sowed the seeds of radical thinking among the people. Education helps in the emancipation of women and thereby improving their standard of living and keeping their children healthy. The educational development of women is the backbone of better mental and physical health of Kerala’s citizens.
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