The Indian coastline has since time immemorial served as a strategic point for the trade of silk, spice and opium. Its territorial waters have also been the reason for a lot of invasions from the neighboring countries. The port of Kozhikode also known as Calicut in its anglicized version is situated in the Northern part of the state of Kerala. Once the capital of an independent Malabar kingdom, Kozhikode means Fortified Palace and has often been dubbed the “City of Spices” for its important role as the major trading point of eastern spices and hand-woven cotton cloth that was exported from southern India.

Known to the Tamils as the city Kallikkottai, and the Chinese as Kalifo, Kozhikode is what the Malayalees call it. The importance and authenticity of education in Kerala makes it to be one of the most literate states in the country. The local dynastic precursors of modern-day Kerala made significant contributions to the progress on education in Kerala. There were many Sabha Mathams that imparted Vedic knowledge. Apart from the Kalaris, who excelled and taught the Kerala form of martial arts, there were village schools run by Ezhuthachans or Asans. No wonder the people of Kozhikode valued and considered it blessed to be educated.

Unlike the other states in India, Kozhikode followed a Matricahial system wherein which the ancestral property would go to the daughter and not to the son, Kozhikode has accordingly been of the few states to focus on the education of the girl child. The Primary education in Kerala begins with the pre-primary institutions which are similar to the Day care centers or creches and are called Anganvadis or play schools, a compulsorily basic stage in schooling where the children are trained for formal school. The primary division is further divided into the Lower primary which caters to classes I – IV and into Upper Primary which caters to Classes V – VII. The State government on the orders from the Central Government and the RTE Act provide free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of 14 years.

Almost every village has more than five primary schools. There are 6,726 lower primary and 2,968 upper primary schools. Of the primary schools 61.07% are private aided, 2.98% are private unaided and 35.95% are government schools .There are 931 higher secondary schools in the State. The State also focuses on Alternate education 814 schools of Vocational courses in 45 subjects. Subjects are related to agriculture (livestock management and fisheries), health and paramedical service, business and commerce, home science and humanities and service sectors in engineering and technology. Clothing and embroidery, cosmetology and management of beauty parlors, creche-pre-school management is courses exclusively for girls.