Kerala scores high on key education indicators, but CWSN accessibility remains a concern: UDISE+ report

Kochi: Kerala has emerged as one of the better-performing states in the country on several education indicators, according to the UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education) 2025-26 report released by the Union ministry of education on Tuesday.

However, the report highlights gaps in accessibility, particularly for children with special needs (CWSN).The state has 15,750 schools, 60.44 lakh students and 2.94 lakh teachers. Kerala ’s pupil-teacher ratio stands at 21, better than the national average of 24. The state also has an average of 19 teachers per school, among the highest in the country.Kerala records an average enrolment of 384 students per school, significantly higher than the national average of 169.

The report notes that while several major states face underutilisation of school infrastructure, a larger number of students use the institutions in Kerala .The state has maintained high enrolment levels across categories, with the Gross Enrolment Ratio standing at 92% in primary education, 97% in upper primary and 99% each at secondary and higher secondary levels. Kerala also recorded low dropout rates compared to national trends.

The dropout rate in the primary category stood at 0.2% while it was 0.1% at the upper primary level. The secondary-level dropout rate was 4.1%.The report found that Kerala has made progress in providing basic facilities, with most schools having access to drinking water, toilets, electricity and libraries. However, accessibility for students with disabilities remains an area requiring attention. Of the total schools in Kerala , only 8,142 have functional toilets for CWSN.At the national level, UDISE+ 2025-26 showed a decline in dropout rates compared to the previous academic year. The dropout rate at the preparatory level fell from 2.3% in 2024-25 to 1.8% in 2025-26 while the secondary-level dropout rate declined from 8.2% to 7%.The national Gross Enrolment Ratio at the secondary level also improved from 68.5% in 2024-25 to 71.7% in 2025-26, indicating better retention and participation in secondary education.