Thiruvananthapuram: More seats have been reserved for differently abled students in all Government and Aided colleges in Kerala from the start of the new academic year.
The colleges have to ensure a maximum of three extra seats for such students pursuing degree courses and one seat for post-graduate programmes, a new order issued by the Government stated. The same is being done in addition to the existing quota for these students.
The seats are being allocated above the current admission limit, without causing any further financial liability to the Government. The students will have to be considered as a single unit while allocating admission to them on the basis of merit, the order issued by the Additional Secretary of the Higher Education Department stated.
The directive was handed over to all the universities and Government and Aided colleges in the state.
Earlier, the Higher Education Reforms Commission recommended the provision of more opportunities, ensuring equality for differently abled students during their higher education. Plans are afoot to design special courses and create a special evaluation process for the category of students. The Government is also considering measures to ensure the increased representation of differently abled students in university or college committees, and also the appointment of specialist teachers on a temporary basis.