Thiruvananthapuram: To meet the exceptional high demand for higher secondary plus-one admission this academic year, the Kerala government might take a call on increasing the number of seats this week itself. Allowing temporary additional batches or increasing the number of seats are the two options before the government.
Candidates have already secured admission in 85% seats so far after the second allotment. The last date for application in this phase of allotment is October 21.
A decision on sanctioning extra seats would be taken after considering the number of students who are yet to be allotted seats. Meanwhile, the supplementary allotment would be published on October 26 by including the additional seats too.
The government might not prolong the decision especially since the legislative assembly session is underway. The opposition has already raised this issue thrice in the ongoing session. The ruling Left Democratic Front too has demanded to address the issue.
Factors to be considered
The government might allow temporary additional batches if a huge number of students have been left out. However, if the number of students who didn’t get seats in the second allotment is comparatively lesser, then the number of seats in the existing batches would be proportionately increased.
In 2012, the seats in the Sciences batches were increased to 63 and the seats in the Commerce and Humanities batches had gone up to 68.
Currently, after an increase of 10%-20% in seats, up to 60 students have been admitted in each batch in the schools in Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod districts. Meanwhile, it is 55 students each in the schools in other districts.
If the seats are increased, it might create infrastructural problems, including lack of classrooms and other facilities, in many places.
The decision would be taken by considering the number of applicants and the remaining seats on the taluk levels.
High shortfall in three districts
The education department assumes that it is in districts like Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad that most number of candidates are left out. Meanwhile, the officials say that it won’t be a problem in other districts as the remaining seats in the community and sports quotas would be added in the supplementary allotment.
Overall admissions
Admissions have been allowed in around 2,69,533 seats out of the 2,70,188 seats after two allotments. The number of seats would go up to 3,94,457 when the community and management quota too are added. After eliminating the double applications, the number of applicants is 4,25,730.
Even though open school facilities (SCOLE– erala) are available for those who do not get admission in regular schools, the students and parents seem to be hesitant to avail the option.