THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP: A SAGA OF SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES IN THE EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE OF KERALA

Educational achievements in Kerala, India, includes near total literacy, free and universal primary education, low dropout rates, easy access to Higher education resulting in the exceptional social development and quality of life. It is often acclaimed as the ‘Kerala Model’ with reference to the whole education system in India. The initiatives by missionaries and princely regimes of Travancore and Cochin laid the foundation for education in Kerala. The social reform movements accelerated the spread of education. Large scale Government funding of education was an important factor behind the State’s educational development both in private educational institutions established by any person or agency and recognized by and is receiving aid from Government, and Government institutions established and maintained by State Government. This paper focuses on the unique partnership between the private and the public which paved way for the success of the ‘Kerala model’ of education in India along with its challenges and significance. Key words: public, private, partnership, challenges, educational landscapes