Sat Aug 02 13:16:56 UTC 2025: **Kerala Plus One Admission Crisis: Thousands Remain Unseated in Northern Districts Despite Increased Seats**

**Kozhikode, Kerala – August 2, 2025** – As Plus One (higher secondary) admissions conclude in Kerala, a significant number of students from north Kerala districts and Thrissur remain without their desired seats, sparking concerns over educational infrastructure and accessibility.

Data released today by the Malabar Education Movement, a Kozhikode-based NGO, reveals a substantial deficit of 53,996 seats across higher secondary, vocational higher secondary streams, ITIs, and polytechnic colleges, even after the government’s announced 30% marginal increase in seats.

Out of the 4.22 lakh students who qualified for higher studies statewide, only 3.85 lakh seats are available. The situation is particularly acute in the northern districts and Thrissur, where 2,46,879 students applied but only 1,92,883 seats exist. Malappuram district faces the most severe shortage, with 79,152 eligible students competing for just 52,750 seats.

According to K. Abdul Nassar and O. Akshay Kumar of the Malabar Education Movement, the crisis extends beyond seat availability, impacting classroom conditions. Despite recommendations from the National Education Policy and state government expert committees to limit class sizes to 30-50 students, many classrooms in north Kerala’s higher secondary schools are reportedly accommodating 65-72 students.

The NGO also highlighted a disparity in the availability of science stream seats compared to other regions. While the Education Department has temporarily increased batches for the past five years to address the Plus One seat shortage, these measures have not been made permanent. Furthermore, the shifting of vacant batches from southern districts often lacks the accompanying transfer of teachers’ posts, undermining the effectiveness of the initiative.

The ongoing seat crisis underscores the urgent need for long-term solutions to improve educational infrastructure and ensure equitable access to higher secondary education for all students in Kerala, especially in the underserved northern districts.

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