Kerala HSE sees decline in new admissions as fewer students switch from CBSE, ICSE
Thiruvananthapuram: The number of students transitioning from the central syllabi to the Kerala syllabus for Higher Secondary education is on the decline. In 2020, 37,772 students who completed Class 10 under the CBSE system joined the Kerala syllabus, making up 51.65 percent of the total. However, this year, only 19,382 students made the switch, a drop to 32.43 percent.
The trend is also evident among ICSE students. In 2020, 3,726 out of 7,936 ICSE graduates joined the Kerala Syllabus, which was 46.95 percent. This number dropped in 2024, with only 2,385 students from 7,517 ICSE pass-outs opting for the Kerala syllabus, reducing the percentage to just 31.72 percent.
The decrease in transition from central syllabi to Kerala syllabus:
CBSE
| Year | Pass-outs | Kerala syllabus joinees | Percentage |
| 2020 | 73,129 | 37,772 | 51.65% |
| 2021 | 70,483 | 34,140 | 48.43% |
| 2022 | 69,200 | 29,986 | 43.33% |
| 2023 | 67,720 | 28,473 | 42.04% |
| 2024 | 59,587 | 19,382 | 32.43% |
ICSE
| Year | Pass-outs | Kerala syllabus joinees | Percentage |
| 2020 | 7936 | 3726 | 46.95% |
| 2021 | 8011 | 3768 | 47.03% |
| 2022 | 7787 | 3640 | 46.74% |
| 2023 | 7823 | 3224 | 41.21% |
| 2024 | 7517 | 2385 | 31.72% |
Reasons behind the shift
The change in student preferences can be traced back to several factors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many CBSE students had opted for the Kerala syllabus, largely due to the reduced fees. The higher success rate in the Kerala syllabus made it an attractive option, especially with marks-based admissions in universities like Delhi University.
However, with the introduction of common entrance exams and the mark equalisation process in exams like KEAM, students in the Kerala syllabus have faced challenges. The lower success rate in these entrance exams, when compared to their counterparts in the central syllabi, has led many students to stick with the CBSE and ICSE systems.
Meanwhile, many argue that the focus on increasing success rates through higher marks in the Kerala Syllabus may have affected the quality of education.