Sat Jun 21 16:03:52 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

Kerala’s Minister for General Education, V. Sivankutty, addressed the media regarding the availability of Plus One (high school) seats after the main allotment process, stating that over 113,000 seats remain vacant despite ongoing protests demanding more seats. He also discussed the revised mid-day meal scheme, efforts to improve the quality of education (‘Samagra Gunamenma Padhathi’), and initiatives for students with hearing impairments.

**News Article:**

**Kerala Minister Addresses Plus One Seat Availability Amidst Protests, Outlines Education Initiatives**

**Kozhikode, June 21, 2025** – Amidst ongoing protests from UDF-affiliated organizations demanding more Plus One (high school) seats, Kerala’s Minister for General Education, V. Sivankutty, stated that 113,476 seats remain vacant across the state after the initial allotment process. Speaking to media personnel in Kozhikode today, the Minister clarified that 71,258 seats are unfilled in the aided sector, while 87,659 students have applied for the next round of allotment. He also acknowledged a significant number of vacancies in the unaided sector.

The Minister addressed concerns surrounding student demand by clarifying the difference between the number of applicants and the available seats.

Mr. Sivankutty also provided updates on various educational initiatives. He detailed the revised mid-day meal scheme, emphasizing that the menu is based on meticulous calorie and cost calculations determined by a dedicated committee. He encouraged schools to seek support from local bodies, corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, parent-teacher associations (PTAs), alumni, and the public to provide millet breakfast to students, a practice already implemented in around 2,200 schools. He further suggested the establishment of school vegetable gardens to reduce reliance on external vegetable purchases.

The Minister highlighted the ‘Samagra Gunamenma Padhathi,’ a project aimed at enhancing the quality of education. Training for heads of public institutions will conclude by July 15th, followed by cluster-level training for all teachers starting July 19th. The project aims to ensure a minimum 30% cut-off mark for students in written examinations from classes 5 to 9, with targeted training provided to those who fall below the benchmark.

Finally, Mr. Sivankutty announced that the government has commissioned the creation of special textbooks for students with hearing impairments, scheduled for release on June 30th.

Read More