Aided schools get preference in allotment of additional Plus One batches in north Kerala

The allotment of a majority of the recently announced additional Plus One batches to aided higher secondary schools has led to apprehensions about government schools in north Kerala districts losing their students in the near future.

The General Education department sanctioned 120 additional temporary batches to 117 schools in Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kasaragod districts to address a perceived shortage of seats in these places. A total of 60 students are being admitted in each batch. However, 48 of the 60 batches in Malappuram and all the 20 batches in Kozhikode have gone to aided higher secondary schools. Pro-Left teachers’ unions claim that a majority of school managements are close to the Indian Union Muslim League, whose Minister N. Samsudheen handles the General Education portfolio.

The schools that have got science batches in Kozhikode are MJHSS, Villiappally; Santhinikethan HSS, Thiruvalloor; Nochad HSS; Markaz Girls HSS, Karanthur; BTMHSS, Thurayur; Mohammedali Jowhar HSS, Elettil Vattoli; Chakkalakkal HSS, Madavoor; PTMHSS, Kodiyathur; CMHSS, Mannur; and Umbichi Haji HSS, Chaliyam. Those who have got humanities batches are MUMHSS, Vadakara; Velam HSS; Ummathur SIHSS; Edakkulam-Poyilkkavu HSS; Mukkom HSS; Thalakkulathur CMMHSS; and PVS HSS, Eranhikkal. The schools that got commerce batches are RACHSS, Kadameri; and Crescent HSS, Vanimel.

However, a section of teachers points out that many government schools with good infrastructure, where a large number of students seek admissions, have been left out of the process. A case in point is the Government Higher Secondary School, Kuttiyadi, in Vadakara taluk. This is the only government school having a higher secondary section in the Kunnummal sub-district. Though the school already has eight batches, there is demand for at least two more.

The allegation is that these temporary batches will be made permanent in two years if they consistently get 25 students for that long. If the allotted batches are in subjects already being offered in a school, existing teachers will be deployed for them. However, if the allotted batches are for new subjects, additional staff will have to be appointed there. Since it is an open secret that aided school managements take money for each new appointment, this could turn out to be a way to fill their coffers after two years, say teachers who do not wish to be quoted.

T.K.A. Shafi, State general secretary, Kerala School Teachers Association, claims that no scientific studies have been held ahead of allotting the additional batches. Many of the government higher secondary schools, which have got new buildings and facilities over the past few years, were ignored. “During the tenure of the previous United Democratic Front government, many new batches were given to aided higher secondary schools in districts such as Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Alappuzha in a similar manner. Over the years, the number of students in government higher secondary schools there dropped below 25, the minimum number required to retain a batch,” he says.

Another teacher from Kozhikode says that the aided school managements will go to any extent to lure students. This could lead to a drastic drop in the students’ strength in government schools, he adds.