Kerala is having fewer children. This is bad news for teachers

The state of Kerala in India is experiencing a decline in student enrollment, which has contributed to a shortage of government school teachers. This shortfall has sparked a 41-day protest by 239 rank holders who made the 2025 lower primary teacher rank list but have yet to secure jobs. The protest has drawn attention to the issue of dwindling enrolment, particularly at the lower-primary level, which is linked to the state's declining birth rates.

Kerala's crude birth rate has been steadily decreasing from 17.67 in 1992 to 13.79 in 2020. As a result, the teacher-student ratio in lower primary schools has increased from 1:30 to 1:40, as schools struggle to maintain sufficient student numbers to justify hiring additional teachers. This trend has created a vicious cycle, with lower enrolment leading to larger class sizes, which in turn deters further enrollment.

The government has acknowledged the issue but has sought 45 days to study the protesting teachers' demands, primarily focusing on changing the teacher-student ratio from 1:30 to 1:25. However, experts warn that such a change could place a significant financial burden on the government, as salaries, wages, and pension bills make up 63.23% of the state's revenue expenditure.