No need to spend heavily on coaching centres; government to offer free NEET, JEE training

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Education Minister N Shamsudheen said the government aims to ensure equal opportunities for public school students in competitive examinations through the ‘Mukulam’ portal by leveraging artificial intelligence. He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Mukulam’, an AI-based portal developed by KITE as part of the General Education Department’s 100-day action plan, at Jawahar Sahakarana Bhavan. The minister said innovative initiatives such as Mukulam would help transform the higher secondary sector into a centre of excellence. He also stressed the need to implement such projects effectively in schools.

The Mukulam portal has been developed to provide free AI-based training for entrance examinations such as NEET, JEE, CUET, IISER and KVPY to higher secondary and vocational higher secondary students. The scheme aims to give students from ordinary backgrounds an opportunity to perform well in these examinations, even if they cannot afford private coaching due to financial constraints. The project was successfully completed as a pilot in 25 selected schools. Digital learning materials for around 10 subjects in the Science, Humanities and Commerce streams have been prepared using AI technology and made available through the new KITE website.

The minister also inaugurated a one-day workshop for VHSE principals organised by KITE at Jawahar Sahakarana Bhavan. He said changes were necessary in the vocational higher secondary sector to keep pace with the times.

“VHSE will be restructured by giving importance to new employment opportunities and integrating sectors such as agriculture and industry with modern technologies, including AI,” he said. The minister said the government intends to constitute a new committee for this purpose. He added that the public education sector can be successfully taken forward only when various responsibilities are carried out with proper coordination.

He also said the government was seriously considering the need for clerk and peon services in higher secondary schools. Steps would be taken to address the shortage of physical education teachers in the higher secondary sector, he said. The department is also taking necessary interventions on issues including the appointment of teachers for students with disabilities and KTET, he added.

Higher secondary and VHSE principals from all districts participated online from their respective centres in the one-day workshop on cyber security protocols. General Education Director Arun K Vijayan presided over the function. KITE CEO K Anvar Sadath, Higher Secondary Department Joint Director Ashraf KK and VHSE Deputy Director (General) KV Manoj also attended the event.