Thiruvananthapuram: The press release issued by Education Minister V Sivankutty states that the number of class 1 students in government-aided schools has decreased by 10,164 in the academic year 2023-24. However, 42,059 students between classes 2-10  had newly sought admissions in the schools.

The combined number of students studying in government-aided, and unaided schools in the state in the current academic year stands at 37,46,647.  Among these 34,04,724 students are studying in government-aided schools. While the number of students in class 1 in government-aided schools was reduced by 10,164. A total of 42,059 students have taken admissions in classes ranging from 2nd-10th standard.

The maximum number of students enrolled in class 8-- 17,011. Meanwhile, 15,529 students took admissions to class 5. The total number of students in government-aided-unaided schools in the previous academic year stood at 38,33,399. Whereas the number of class 1 students who were enrolled in public schools in 2022-23 stood at 2,68,313, in the same period, 3,95,852 had enrolled themselves in class 10. Hence, the number of students in the current academic year will rise only if an additional 1,27,539 students decide to join the schools. 

Taking this into consideration, it can be noted that 42,059 new students have enrolled in schools in the current academic years between classes 2-10. A total of 38,33,399 students took the admission to the government-aided-unaided schools in the previous academic year. 

If we consider the statistics district-wise, Malappuram tops the list with a 20.73 pc share in the total number of newly enrolled students, and Pathanamthitta lies at the bottom of the table with a mere 2.21 pc of students. Barring Kottayam and Ernakulam, the rest of the districts have displayed a downward trend when it comes to new admissions. A similar trend was observed in the aided schools, with the Palakkad district being the only exception. Meanwhile, among all students (current academic year) who took admissions, 56 pc (20,96,846) were from above the poverty line and 44 pc (16,49,801) were from below the poverty line.