Kerala Shines in PGI-D; Central Report Confirms Lowest Dropout Rate

Thiruvananthapuram: Once again, Kerala has proven that consistent public investment, social awareness, and community participation in education yield tangible results.
According to the Ministry of Education's latest Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) for 2023-2024, Kerala has outshined most other states with multiple districts performing well above the national average.
The state has not only maintained its stronghold in academic quality but also recorded the lowest dropout rate in South India, a contrast that sharply highlights the educational crisis in several other parts of the country. This observation comes from another report published by the Central Government itself.
The PGI-D is a nation wide index that evaluates school education based on 74 indicators including learning outcomes, teacher availability, digital learning, infrastructure, classroom diversity, and school safety. The total score is out of 600 and districts are placed in ten categories ranging from Utkarsh (91 to 100 percent) to Akamshi- 3 (up to 10 percent).
In the latest index, Ernakulam, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, and Thrissur districts in Kerala scored above 60 percent, earning them a place in the Uttam-3 category. Ernakulam emerged as the top -performing district in the state. All other districts in Kerala scored above 50 percent, reaffirming the state’s comprehensive strength in public education. To put this in perspective, only 41 districts across the country crossed the 60 percent mark. Not a single district in India entered the top two categories, Utkarsh or Uttam-1, and Barnala in Punjab was the only one to reach Uttam-2.
The state improved its performance in the teacher education and training domain in 2023–24, achieving the highest score of 91.4 points and earning the Daksh grade. It is also one of only three states to receive a Daksh grade in any domain.

While academic performance is one side of the coin, student retention is another critical indicator. According to another report published by central government, Kerala, reporting a low school dropout rate of just 3.14 percent, the lowest among all southern states. This is in stark contrast to INC congress led government in Karnataka, where 22.2 percent of students drop out before reaching Classes 9 and 10, making it the worst performer in South India in this category. Andhra Pradesh comes next with a dropout rate of 12.48 percent, followed by Telangana with 11.43 percent and Tamil Nadu with 7.68 percent.
The national picture is even more worrying. Bihar, tops the list with a staggering dropout rate of 25.63 percent. Assam follows closely at 25.07 percent, while West Bengal reports a rate of 17.87 percent.
Kerala’s success is not the result of short-term projects or isolated initiatives. It is built on decades of sustained public investment, a strong political commitment that transcends party lines, and a socially conscious population that regards education as a right, not a privilege.
Over the years, the state has revitalised its public school system by modernising infrastructure through the Public Education Rejuvenation Mission. It has introduced ICT-enabled smart classrooms, ensured continuous training for teachers, and updated its curriculum to stay relevant. Uniforms and textbooks are provided free of cost to students, particularly those from below poverty line families. Special interventions such as counselling, bridge courses, and individual student tracking have been key in preventing dropouts.
The Kerala Government has recently introduced a Robotics curriculum for 10th standard students, aiming to shift the focus towards skill-based and career- oriented education. In addition, there are ongoing initiatives to integrate Artificial Intelligence into the school syllabus, ensuring students are equipped to meet the demands of the evolving technological landscape.
Local self- government institutions and school- level parent -teacher associations play an active role in monitoring and supporting schools. This decentralised approach ensures that problems are addressed promptly and contextually, without waiting for state-level directives.
At a time when many parts of India are struggling with educational inequality, digital divides, and rising dropout rates, Kerala stands out as a model worth emulating. Its public education achievements are not rooted in elite institutions or private networks but in strengthening the foundational pillars of government schools.
The latest PGI-D findings and dropout statistics are yet another reminder that quality education for all is possible, when supported by inclusive policy, grassroots participation, and a genuine commitment to equity.
As the country advances towards the goals outlined in the National Education Policy 2020, the Kerala model offers not just inspiration, but a practical blueprint for transformative change.