Focus is being given to education as it is an instrument not only to heighten the awareness levels but also enable the Scheduled Tribes to access better employment and human development. Education sector interventions lays emphasis on improving functional literacy, minimizing school dropouts and enhancing academic proficiency of students. The overcrowding seen in our pre-matric and post-matric hostels is being addressed at once by creating adequate infrastructure facilities. A major area of concern is the dropout rate at the secondary, higher secondary, professional and technical levels.  The gender relations and socio economic aspects of the households are important factors. The dropout issue is being addressed through a multi-faceted programme involving measures to solve language issues, training and recruitment of teachers with right aptitude, offering quality education to students, through concerted and focused effort by all concerned with a mission mode.

• Model Residential Schools

In order to provide quality education to ST students, there are 20 Model Residential School/Asramam School functioning under this department, in which two MRSs follow CBSE Syllabus. Extra academic facilities are also being provided in such institutions. Model Residential schools operated by the ST department are centers of excellence achieving impressive results in SSLC and Plus Two examinations consistently over the years. About 5500 students are studying in these institutions.
Following extra academic facilities are being provided in all MRSs

• Special  remedial classes for the 5th standard students
• Spoken English classes for all students
• Medical & Engineering entrance coaching in 7 MRSs having Science Batch.
•  Motivation classes for all students.
   

 Extra Curricular Activities
Student Police Cadet.  NCC, NSS, Band Troupe, ‘KALARY’ etc
 

• Peripatetic Education to the Primitive Tribes

To impart Lower Primary education to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups and other similar Scheduled Tribes, Peripatetic centres & single teacher schools have been set up in tribal dominated inaccessible areas of the State. This scheme is based on a single teacher programme,and the teacher is expected to visit the identified settlements and provide education. It is expected that the students will get interest in education without being uprooted from their isolated settlements. There are 23 single teacher schools and 7 Peripatetic centres functioning under Scheduled Tribes Development department .
 

• Tutorial Scheme for Students

The scheme is intended to provide special coaching to students of High School and Plus I & II classes to increase pass percentage. The monthly tuition fee would be directly given to parents for providing tuition through nearby tutorials.

• GothraSarathi

The scheme is for arranging transportation facilities to students living in the interior forests and inaccessible areas, in association with the Education Department, Local Governments and the Parent Teachers Association.

• SamuhyaPatanamuri (Community Study centre in tribal hamlets)(New Initiative)

To solve the linguistic and dropout issues and to create ambience for education in hamlets, department has started 100 Community Study Centres in tribal hamlets throughout the state during 2017-18.  One educated tribal youth from same community has been selected and who works as a facilitator and social worker.  The Centre is equipped with computers with internet, LED TV, furniture, reading materials etc.  About 30 students are accommodated in each centre. 

• Pre – matric &Post-matric Hostels for Tribal Students                                            

With a view to provide residential education to tribal students in remote areas, the department is operating 106 Pre-matric hostels and 5 Post matric hostels  for providing boarding, lodging and tuition facilities to ST students. It is proposed to start 4 Post matric hostels during 2018-19.

• Special Incentive to Brilliant Students

The scheme is for providing incentives to the brilliant students from ST communities who perform well in academics and come out with meritorious performance.

• Ayyankali Memorial Talent Search and Development Scheme

Under the scheme, talented tribal students (day scholars) studying from 5th standard to 10th standard are the target group and continuous assistance is being provided to them to excel in academics and extracurricular activities. Every year, 200 students studying in 5th standards will be selected under this scheme through an intelligence test.

• Assistance for Study tour to School & College going Students

Under this scheme, Post matric students are given financial assistance for participating in excursions and study tours. Also, the scheme intends to conduct Bharat Darshan/All India Tour for selected tribal students with the approval of the SLWG.

• Assistance to Orphans

This scheme is intended to provide special assistance to the scheduled tribe children who have no parents to look after. Assistance is given to care takers of such children. Each beneficiary is given Rs.1000/- per month.
 

11. Supply of Laptop to Students

 The scheme is envisaged to provide Laptop to ST students of professional courses in approved University/institutes. The courses covered are MBA, M.Sc Computer Science, MCA, MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BVSc.& AH, B.Tech and M.Tech and other Post Graduation Degrees
 

• Tribal Girl Child endowment scheme (Gothravalsalyanidhi) (New Initiative) 
                                                        
  Objective of the scheme is to start an insurance linked social security scheme for tribal girl child so as to ensure proper education, improve the capabilities and social status of girl child of tribal community. It will be a long term deposit scheme which attains maturity only after the child attains 18 years of age and has at least passed 10th standard. It will ensure holistic development of ST girl child starting with her birth registration, immunization, school admission and education upto 10th standard. The insurance amount can be used for higher education /settling in life. The scheme implementation has begun this year. All the tribal girl children born on or after  1/4/2017 are being brought under the scheme.
   

 13.Gothrabandhu- Engaging Tribal teachers in primary schools(New Initiative)

To ensure proper education to tribal children, one educated tribal youth (men or women)  with TTC/B.Ed qualification from the same locality with knowledge in tribal dialect and Malayalam is selected and trained to function as mentor  teacher in  Primary Schools .These teachers are entrusted to addressing the language issues of tribal children, reducing drop outs and ensuring cent per cent enrolment , As per the scheme 241 qualified  tribal youth were appointed in Wayanad district during 2017-18.   

14. Post-matric Scholarships for Scheduled Tribe Students

The scheme was 100% centrally assisted scheme at the time of introducing the scheme by Government of India. From 2014-15 onwards Central Government provides 75% of the actual expenditure under the scheme and State has to bear 25%.The scheme is intended for payment of educational assistance to the students undergoing various post-matric courses in and outside the state. These scholarships are granted and disbursed through e-grantz (net banking).

15.Pre-matric Scholarship for ST Students Studying in IX & X Classes     (100% CSS) 

During the year 2012-13, Government of India, Ministry of Tribal Affairs has introduced the centralized scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship for needy Scheduled Tribe Students studying in classes of IX and X through DBT system. This Scheme is effective from 01.07.2012. Educational assistance such as lump sum grant, monthly stipend to pre-matric students is given under this scheme.

16.Vocational Training Institute & Training Centres for Scheduled Tribe students.

There are two Vocational Training Institutes for Scheduled Tribe students functioning at Thiruvananthapuram(Kuttamala) and Idukki(Nadukani) for imparting training in 3 trades approved by National Council For Vocational Training. More over 11 vocational training centres are functioning under this department.

17. Nursery Schools, Balavadies,Kindergartens,Vikasvadies &Creches.

For providing Pre-primary education to the tribal students living in very remote and inaccessible areas, there are 13 nursery schools, 10 kinder gartens, 4 balavadies , 3 balavijnanakendras and 1 vikasvadi are running under the department. The students are given food, uniform, bag, umbrella etc.

18.Incentive to Parents of ST Students

 An amount of Rs. 50/- per month is given to parents of ST students studying in LP classes, who have 75% attendance in an academic year.