Sainik Schools have been conceived with the motive of training young students to acquire the qualities that may help them become officers in the defence forces later. Of the 31 such schools across the country, Kerala has one at Kazhakoottam in Thiruvananthapuram.

The admissions to classes 6 and 9 are open now and aspiring candidates can apply online through the Sainik school website.

The last date for the application on September 23. The seats are open only for boys.

The entrance exam -- All India Sainik Schools Entrance Exam-- would be held on January 5 at the centers in Kazhakoottam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Palakkad and Kozhikode.

Sainik Schools offer quality education up to standard 12 and follow the syllabus of the Central Boards of Secondary Education (CBSE). Besides, the students would be given intensive training to gain physical and mental fitness. Elocution, quiz, group discussions, arts and cultural activities, music, drama, swimming, aeromodeling, karate, yoga, photography, mountaineering, cricket and other sports are some of the extracurricular activities here.

The incredible training provided at a Sainik School helps its students crack the UPSC exams to secure admissions in the National Defence Academy, after completing the 12th standard. They would eventually get commissioned as officers in the Army, Navy or Air Force wings of the defence forces.

Those who seek admissions to class six should be born between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2010. The candidates who wish to get admitted to class 9 should be studying in 8th standard and should be born between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2007.

The candidates should possess good health, including excellent eye sight. In all 70 seats are open for admission to class 6 and 15 seats in 9th standard.Scheduled Caste candidates may benefit from the 15% reservation.

Scheduled Tribes have 7.5% quota. At the Kazhakootam school, the rest of the 67% of seats are reserved for Keralites and 33% for students from other Indian states. The wards of soldiers and ex–servicemen would get up to 25% reservation.

The annual academic fee would be around Rs 88,000. There would be additional fees for games and miscellaneous categories. Concessions would be given for Scheduled Caste and OEC candidates.

Students can apply for the various scholarships offered by the central and state governments. The application fee for the entrance exam Rs 400 for general categories and Rs 250 for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Aspiring students can write the entrance test to class 6 in any one of the Malayalam, English and Hindi languages. However, the medium for the entrance exam for class 9 English.