THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Department of General Education has issued an order containing guidelines regarding the conversion of boys-only and girls-only schools in government and aided sectors of the state to mixed schools from the next academic year.

Earlier, minister Sivankutty had clarified that no school will be made compulsorily converted to a mixed school. The process of converting the school to a mixed school shall be initiated only if the PTA of the government school submits an application to the government through the Director of Public Education after getting permission from the local body. In the case of aided schools, the manager of the school should submit the application to the government. Complete details of educational institutions, including unaided schools, within a radius of three kilometres of the school should also be submitted along with the application. Schools should have an adequate number of classrooms, drinking water and furniture facilities as per KER provisions. There should be separate safe toilets for boys and girls. The schools should have grounds which can accommodate additional students. If additional posts are required, reserve teachers should be appointed for the first four academic years. If the school is converted to a mixed school, it will be treated as a single unit for the purpose of staff fixation. These are the main directions in the order.