FINANCING HIGHER EDUCATION IN KERALA: A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS

Educationally, Kerala stands today at the threshold of excellence. The state has been able to achieve and sustain universal access to school education. It has world class social indicators against its name. Then also it is lagging behind several states within the country in terms of economic development. It is at the top of the unemployment chart. Causes for this paradox need to be analysed before the steep fall of the state economy. In this study we tried to know the trends and pattern of state financing and public expenditure on higher education. Lower per capita expenditure and less expenditure of allocated budget on higher education is responsible for declining the quality of higher education in the state. Recommendations were also given in order to improve the condition of higher education in the state.