Shortage of Plus One batches in Malabar: Edu dept awaits CM's nod for final decision

Thiruvananthapuram: The public education department awaits CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s approval for allotting additional Plus One batches in the Malabar region which is currently experiencing a shortage of Plus One seats. 

Education minister V Sivankurry reviewed the situation. The only solution for the crisis is to introduce temporary additional batches in schools. A high-level meeting involving the Kerala CM will take a final decision on the matter. The education minister had earlier studied the situation on a taluk basis.

Only one supplementary allotment has been completed so far. One more opportunity will be provided to the students. After the first supplementary allotment,  27,046 students between the Palakkad-Kasargod stretch are awaiting admissions. However, there are only 2,781 merit seats to be filled.

The situation is the worst in the Malappuram district. At present, 13,654 students are competing for just 389 merit seats. The necessity for additional batches is higher than ever now.

CBSE exams preponed 
Meanwhile, taking the upcoming Lok Sabha election (2024) into consideration, the CBSE has decided to prepone board examinations for classes 10 and 12 for the current academic year (2023-24). The exams are scheduled to begin on February 15 and will be completed before April 10. The CBSE exam dates were adjusted in a similar fashion in the Lok Sabha elections of 2014 and 2019.