Southern States - Kerala   

State's qualitative aspects ignored: study

By Our Special Correspondent

KOCHI Dec. 20. Are the qualitative aspects of the much-acclaimed Kerala Model of Development proving to be a bane for the State? The answer is in the affirmative if the continuous ``neglect'' of the Finance Commissions to bail out the State from the fiscal morass is any indication, feels a recent study conducted by the Kochi-based Centre for Economic and Environmental Studies.

The study pointed out that with regard to grants for upgradation of social and administrative services, Kerala had received only marginal sums from the Finance Commissions. It received just 0.1 per cent and 0.3 per cent of the total such grants to the States from the Ninth and the Tenth Commissions.

The Eleventh Finance Commission provided slightly more. But it was only about 1.5 per cent of the total grants meant for upgradation of the social services. The State obviously is penalised for its success in attaining above average standards in social services like education and health care. But the successive Finance Commissions took cognisance of Kerala's major achievements only in quantitative terms. They failed to take note of the qualitative dimensions, says the study conducted by K.K. George and K.K. Krishnakumar of the CSES.

While looking at the educational development of the State, all Finance Commissions failed to take into account some of the major deficiencies of the education sector. The quantitative expansion in educational sector has been at the expense of quality at all levels. The poor academic standards are understandable in view of the poor infrastructure and other facilities which in turn is a reflection of the low level of investment. It is true that the State is spending more on education than most other States on a per-capita basis. But a recent study by CSES has brought out that the per pupil expenditure on secondary education in Kerala (Rs. 4,695) is very low compared to that of other States (Rs. 5,668). In this respect, Kerala's position is only 20th among 26 States in the country.

The study suggests that there is a strong case for Kerala arguing for upgradation grants for education to improve the quality standards in school system. In the field of higher education, the State lags behind other States not only in qualitative terms but also in quantitative terms. The number of higher educational institutions per million population was only 7.96 in Kerala as against 9.87 in the country.

The ratio of enrolment in higher education to enrolment in higher secondary education shows that Kerala (67.4 per cent) lags behind the national average of 76.2 per cent. The Twelfth Finance Commission should treat the problem of insufficient capacity in higher and technical education in the State as a special problem arising out of the State's very success in attaining universal schooling.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Mani, Kunhalikutty discuss crisis with Sonia
• Strike move dropped
• Collector told to oversee MP fund schemes
• Collector told to oversee MP fund schemes
• `Debates alone cannot counter imperialism'
• Motor workers drop stir plan
• Malaysian team lauds Akshaya project
• `Diversification must in rubber sector'
• State's qualitative aspects ignored: study
• Poor security leads to plunder of Alappuzha port
• Keralotsavam begins today

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu