Thiruvananthapuram: An error regarding the share of seats that appeared in the Plus-One admission prospectus has been rectified following an intervention by Education Minister V Sivankutty.

The mistake pertained to the tally of seats in government-aided schools other than those run by the minority and backward community managements.

The prospectus brought out by the Government stated 50 percent of the total seats in such schools have been earmarked for open merit category, 20 percent as management quota and another 20 percent for students from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Admission to the remaining 10 percent seats, however, remained uncertain owing to a lack of clarity over its allocation to any particular section.

In response to the queries in this regard, the Education Department has now clarified that the total number of merit seats in such schools will be 60 percent. An order rectifying the earlier mistake will soon be brought out, informed the Office of the Education Minister. 

No community quota

Based on a High Court order, last year the schools under the Nair Service Society management were allotted 10 percent of seats as community quota, besides 20 percent management quota. It, however, has been withdrawn this time, citing another High Court order. With this, schools run by the forward community managements will be allotted no community quota, although they will retain the 20 percent in management quota.

Open merit seats up to 60 percent

As per estimates, government-aided schools other than those run by the minority and backward community managements now have the highest proportion of seats available in open merit: 60 percent. This equation comes down to 40 percent for the schools run by the minority and backward communities, and to 40 percent in government schools.

The unaided schools, meanwhile, have a management quota of 40 percent each. Twelve percent of seats in all schools have been reserved for Scheduled Castes, while the reservation for the Scheduled Tribe is eight percent.