Every year, Kerala presents a state budget. Sometimes the numbers shine. Other times, they’re forgotten in a few days. But this time, the education budget feels different. Instead of chasing headlines, this one stops to ask — what do students need right now? What about schools that still run without working fans or toilets? Or teachers stuck doing too much with too little? With over 23,000 crore marked for education this year, the 2025–26 plan aims to solve real problems. Slowly. One room, one teacher, one tablet at a time.
Smart Classrooms, Student Welfare & School Modernisation
Kerala always spoke of being “digital-first” in education. Some schools in cities got smart boards. Some even had tablets. But what about the rest?
This time, around 5,000 government and aided schools will be upgraded. These upgrades include:
- Smart boards with subject visuals
- Access to recorded lessons
- Internet-enabled classrooms
- Interactive tools for science and math
That’s not all. The government also plans to give out 1.5 lakh tablets to students from Classes 8 to 12. These are meant for kids who don’t have personal devices.
The message is simple: no child should miss out just because they can’t afford a screen.
Read Also: From Chalkboards to Smartboards: Kerala’s Education Budget
Fixing Broken Schools First
Take a walk through many schools in Kerala. You’ll find buildings with cracked walls, rusty fans, or leaking roofs. Some toilets haven’t worked in years.
The ‘Nava Paathashaala’ project now gets 800 crore. The first target? 1,000 schools marked as “bad condition.” Work will begin with:
- New walls and safe ceilings
- Fixed toilets and hand-wash areas
- Drinking water stations
- Proper benches and working lights
These changes aren’t fancy. But they’re important. Kids learn better when the classroom feels safe and clean.
Teachers: More Help, More Support
Kerala has good teachers. But not enough in every school. Many schools are short-staffed, especially in science, IT, and special education.
This budget adds 3,000 new teaching posts, focusing on where the gaps are largest.
It also gives 250 crore to help train teachers. Training will focus on:
- Digital learning methods
- Helping children with learning difficulties
- Mental health awareness
- Using new tools and teaching styles
Good teachers can do even more when they get the right tools and time to grow.
Girls Get Extra Attention
Not every girl in Kerala finds it easy to stay in school. Long distances. Unsafe roads. No separate toilets. This year, the government is trying to change that.
The ‘Vidya Sakhi’ scheme now has 320 crore. It covers:
- Free cycles for Class 9 girls in rural areas
- Sanitary pad vending machines in 2,500 schools
- Scholarships for girls who top Class 10 exams
- More hostels for girls in senior secondary classes
This isn’t about giving girls “extra.” It’s about making school feel possible. And safe.
Colleges Move Closer to Real Jobs
Students in colleges often learn a lot. But not always what the job world wants. That gap is being noticed.
1,950 crore is going to Kerala’s colleges and universities. This money will:
- Update syllabuses to include skills for tourism, IT, and health sectors
- Offer internships with 1,500/month for final-year students
- Start “Career Readiness Cells” in all government colleges
- Connect colleges with local businesses to build better job links
There’s also a push to build community colleges in tribal and coastal areas. These will teach basic skills, not just degrees.
Vocational Skills from Class 8 Onward
For years, students were told to study hard, pass exams, and get degrees. But real-world skills were left out.
That’s changing. This year, the government will spend 600 crore to boost vocational education. Students will now get to learn:
- Tailoring
- Electrical work
- Eco-farming
- Hotel management basics
- Computer coding
Six Skill Parks will also expand in the state. These centers will offer hands-on training. Some are in villages, so rural kids don’t have to travel far.
Read: Kerala University Distance Education Courses
Mental Health Gets a Real Budget
Students carry a lot — pressure, confusion, even fear. Many never say it aloud. But it shows in their grades, their behavior, their silence.
The ‘Sahayi’ program, which started in a few schools, now expands statewide with 75 crore. This will bring:
- Full-time school counsellors in bigger schools
- Training for teachers to notice early signs of stress
- Parent workshops on screen time and exam pressure
- Helplines for students needing urgent support
Mental health is no longer a side note. It’s now part of school life. Just like math or English.
Some Things Still Missing
No budget fixes everything. And this one, too, has gaps.
- Private unaided schools still get no big support.
- Not enough funds go to arts and humanities in colleges.
- Tribal schools need more help with transport and electricity.
- The issue of exam reform is not mentioned, even after past paper leaks.
These problems might need more than money. They may need deeper reforms.
A Budget That Tries, Quietly
This budget may not grab national headlines. It doesn’t promise a new university every week. It doesn’t talk about flying robots or AI tutors.
But it does something better. It listens. It goes to classrooms that smell of wet cement and old chalk. To teachers who juggle five roles a day. To students who justwant a chance, a screen, or even a roof that doesn’t leak.
It fixes the small things. The basic things. Which, in truth, are not so small.
There are no magic tricks here. But there is movement. In the right direction.
Kerala’s 2025–26 education budget puts money where it matters most. Toilets. Tabs. Teachers. Time. Talk. All the little things that help a child stay in school. And maybe, dream bigger.
