Children of migrant workers at home in state's classrooms

Arrival of more labourers from states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal has led to a parallel increase in number of students enrolling in government schools

- ANIRUDH PRAMOD @Kozhikode

WALK into the Byraikulam Government Lower Primary School in the heart of Kozhikode city, and you might hear more Hindi than Malayalam in its corridors. What was once a small neighbourhood school for local children has over the years transformed into a vibrant classroom filled with the voices of migrant students from across northern India.

"I've been teaching here for around 10 years. When I joined, there were around 10 students, a mix of Malayali and migrant children. Now, nearly all our students are children of migrant workers," Geo Jaison, a teacher at the school, told TNIE.

The rising number of migrant labourers in Kerala—from states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal—has brought a parallel rise in students enrolling in local government schools. "Whether it's a restaurant, a construction site, or a barber shop, workers from the northern states are everywhere. And now, so are their children," Jaison said.