Plus one seat crisis: Protests intensifying; SFI also to go on strike

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Putting the government on the defensive in the plus one seat crisis in the Malabar region, SFI also is going on strike. SFI has decided to go on strike from today when Plus One classes are to start today. SFI will march to Malappuram Collectorate.

The SFI, which is of the opinion that the General Education Minister's position on the issue is not correct, had warned two days ago that they will go on strike if the issue is not resolved.

KSU workers had stopped the education minister yesterday and intensified the protest by tying a black flag on his vehicle. The Education Minister, who had alleged that the strike was politically motivated, has decided to hold a discussion with the student organizations on the 25th.

Malabar, which includes Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts, has a shortfall of about seventy-five thousand seats. 54000 children will have to remain out without getting admission even if admission is given in Merit, Community and Management seats which are vacant after the third allotment. About twenty-five thousand children from this are from Malappuram. Among those who are left out without getting a seat, there are those who got full A plus and those who missed full A plus by one subject only.

Increasing seats is not the solution

Since there are 65-70 children in Plus One classes in Malabar, increasing the number of seats in the batch is not a solution. The only solution is to allow new batches or upgrade high schools to higher secondary. However, the government's financial crisis is hindering this.