New Plus One seats only after study: Education Minister C Raveendranath

Thiruvananthapuram: Education Minister C. Raveendranath has said that new Plus One seats will be sanctioned only after scientific studies. This study would be conducted taking into consideration the seat vacancy after the first round of allotment to Plus One courses. While replying to a notice for adjournment motion by KNA Khader of the Muslim League in the assembly on Tuesday. Education Minister said the first allotment of seats for plus one students in government and aided schools began on Tuesday.

A clear picture on the vacant seats will be known only after the completion of the process on June 18. He admitted that were merits in the opposition demand for more seats in the Malabar region. "The total number of students qualified for the higher secondary course this year is 4.31 lakh. As per the present figures, the number of plus one seats available is 4.22 lakh," Mr Raveendranath said. "When we took into account the seats available in polytechnics and industrial training institutes (ITI) and other similar courses, the number of seats will nearly be the same or more than the demand," Mr Raveendranath added.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan while intervening in the discussions said that the government would adopt a practical solution to address the problem. The disparity in the availability of plus one seats has been an issue in northern districts for some years. The number of seats is high in some districts while it is not up to the demand in others, he said.