Inter-district students’ transfer after first term gets controversial

Thiruvananthapuram: The recent order of the directorate of higher education allowing inter-district transfer of students in higher secondary schools after the completion of the first term has created a controversy with teachers alleging that this would affect many schools which have minimum number of students.

The directorate has asked the students to apply for transfer in the prescribed format by August 30. If vacancies remained even afterwards, the students can apply for spot admissions on September 2.

S. Manoj, general secretary, Aided Higher Secondary School Teachers Association, told Deccan Chronicle that over 30,000 seats were vacant in schools across the state. Moreover, one term has already been completed and only two more terms remained for the academic year. In such a situation, the announcement of inter- district transfer may derail the study process, said Mr Manoj.

Though there was a shortage of higher secondary seats in schools in Malabar, many seats remained vacant in southern Kerala.

To tide over the shortage, the government had issued an order transferring selected batches in schools in south Kerala with very little admissions to schools in Malabar this academic year.

However, if the admissions in these schools remained low in the next two academic years

also, the transfer of batches will be made permanent.

Last year, the government had increased Plus-One seats in government and aided higher secondary schools in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Kannur, Way-anad and Kasargod.

The government had also issued 20 percent annual increase in the seats in higher secondary schools.