Thiruvananthapuram: Education Minister V Sivankutty said that the school admission festival (Praveshanolsavam) will be conducted virtually this year considering the Covid situation. The admission festival cannot be held with public participation. So, it will be organized virtually, he stated.

The decision on conducting Plus One exam will be taken within two days. There was difference of opinion when a meeting was convened with the teachers' associations, the minister informed.

The new minister convened a press conference to explain about admission festival, online classes in the new academic year, evaluation of HSE, VHSE, SSLC and THLC exams and distribution of textbooks and uniform.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the state level the admission festival on June 1 at 9 am through Victers channel. At 11 am, admission festival will take place virtually in schools.

Apart from classes aired on Victers Channel, online classes will be held.

The students are suffering from stress as they are unable to see their teachers. So, online classes will be introduced in addition to the digital classes.

Higher Secondary evaluation camps will start on June 1 and conclude by June 19. A total of 26,447 teachers are appointed in 79 camps for evaluation. In VHSE category, 3031 teachers are appointed in 8 camps. Practical exams will take place from June 21 to July 7.

Evaluation camps of SSLC and THLC exams will start on June 7 and end by June 25.

Distribution of textbooks is progressing. About 70 percent of the first volume has been distributed already.