Success story

This refers to 'Lessons in education from China for India' (Apr21, FPJ ). Education in Kerala represents a success story that many nations might wish to emulate. Though it is still an agrarian state with a low per capita income, yet its literacy rate is closer to the United States and China than to most other Indian states. It was the first state to declare total literacy in one town in 1989, and subsequently, total literacy in a whole region in 1990. India's National Literacy Mission declared total literacy in Kerala on April 18, 1991. In 2016, it achieved nearly 100 per cent of school admission for its children. Here, commitment to education pervades the entire society and about 37 percent of the state's annual budget goes to education. The state supports more than 12,000 schools. There's an elementary school within two miles of every settlement. Even when times are tough, education is the last item the Kerala government will cut. If there are budget cuts, there are agitations from the people. Land reforms also contributed to this success. When

every family owns a piece of land, no matter how small, they have a sense of belonging. Then only can they plan for the future with their children’s education becoming a part of that planning. The lower levels of literacy in other Indian states can be attributed to lack of effective land rights for the poor. — Biju Cherian