North Kerala districts are once again facing shortage of surplus seats

As admissions to Plus One classes in the state higher secondary syllabus begin on May 25, 2026 in Kerala, the newly-sworn government in the United Democratic Front (UDF) government will be tasked with addressing the perennial problem of shortage of seats in Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod and Wayanad.

In previous years, the Left Democratic Front government tried to solve the problem by opting for a marginal increase in seats and shifting some loose groups from the southern districts to this part of the state.

According to data collected by activists of the Malabar Education Movement, a Kozhikode-based NGO, there is a severe shortage of seats in Malappuram district.

This year, 78,887 students of the 10th grade gained the right to higher studies here. There are 47,950 Plus One seats, 2,325 Vocational Higher Secondary (VHSE) seats, 1,295 Industrial Training Institution (ITI) seats and 1,180 Polytechnic seats in the district. In total, only 52,750 places are available for higher studies. The shortfall is 26,137 places.

In Palakkad district, 38,147 students have passed the Class X exams, but only 28,823 seats are available in higher secondary schools, ITIs, VHSE schools and polytechnics. There is a shortfall of 9,324 places. Similarly, the number of candidates and vacancies for Kozhikode are 42,675 and 34,917, Kannur 34,742 and 29,811, Kasaragod 20,418 and 16,835 and Wayanad 11,145 and 9,714 respectively. There is a shortfall of only 145 seats in Thrissur. However, more than 7,000 additional seats are available in southern districts like Pathanamthitta and Kottayam.

Movement functionaries like K. Abdul Nasar, a retired college professor, say the marginal increases in seats and group transfers have not helped as there has not been a commensurate increase in teaching posts. “More than 60 students are forced to sit in classrooms that can accommodate only 40 students. In one such school in Malappuram, the PTA had to install exhaust fans to clean the bad air. Even the teachers are helpless as they are unable to do their job fairly,” he points out. They are going to discuss this issue with the government soon.

Published – 21 May 2026 20:03 IST