More seats will be added for eligible students: Minister V Sivankutty

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Additional seats will be added this year too to ensure all eligible students get entry into Plus One courses, said education minister V Sivankutty on Sunday. It has been planned to sanction more seats at the taluk level, on which the cabinet will take a decision soon, he added.
Sivankutty was responding to reports that about 28% students, who have passed the SSLC examination in Malappuram, will not be able to get admissions to Plus One.
Presently, the district has 44,740 plus one merit seats. But with 77,827 students gaining eligibility this year to pursue further studies, the demand for seats far exceeds the availability. Even if seats in unaided institutions, polytechnics, and ITIs are added, the number of seats remains at 56,015. That means 21,812 students in the district will be left out without seats.
The minister said those who want to pursue Plus One course will be eligible for the seats and for this, the government will make appropriate decisions. Last year, 81 new batches were introduced for accommodating all students and this will continue this year too, he added.
“Already directive has been given to collect a taluk-level requirement of seats in Malappuram district. Based on this report, the state cabinet will decide soon,” he said.
“Plus One classes will begin on July 5 and before this all students, who are seeking admission, will get seats. The higher secondary results will be declared on May 25,” he added. There has been a demand from various quarters that the V Karthikeyan commission report be implemented to find a permanent solution to this issue. The committee which studied the shortage of seats, had urged the government to sanction 150 additional batches exclusively for the Malabar region.
The number of students who secured A-plus in all subjects has also increased this year. Concerns remain regarding the availability of seats even for students in the district with high marks. Major political parties have decided to protest seeking more no seats for the district.