Handloom Uniform and Textbook Distribution Launched in Thiruvananthapuram for New Academic Year

Thiruvananthapuram: The Public Education Department has begun preparing school uniforms ahead of the upcoming academic year. The statewide inauguration of the handloom school uniform distribution was held at St. Mary's School, Pattam and was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The event was presided over by General Education Minister V. Sivankutty.

Textbook distribution is being carried out three months in advance. For Classes 1 to 10, 3.5 crore textbooks (Volume 1) are required, while 1.9 crore textbooks are needed for Volume 2. Of these, 79 lakh textbooks have already been printed by Kerala Books and Publications Society (KBPS), and 55 lakh textbooks have been distributed to various hubs. All textbooks are expected to reach schools by the end of May.

A total of 8,00,193 students have been provided with handloom uniforms.

From the next academic year onwards, modified textbooks will be introduced in Class 11. Higher secondary textbooks have been revised after 15 years. In the first phase, revised textbooks prepared by State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) will be implemented. Additionally, 44 more textbooks based on National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) titles will be used in higher secondary classes. A decision on how these textbooks will be incorporated will be made once they are officially released.

Handloom uniforms are being distributed through the Handloom Department to standalone LP and UP government schools, as well as aided schools, for students in Classes 1 to 4. Students who do not receive handloom uniforms, those in Classes 1 to 8 in government schools and Classes 1 to 5 in aided schools will receive an allowance of Rs 600 per child from the Public Education Department to purchase two pairs of uniforms.

Students who fall under both categories, including BPL boys, SC/ST boys in government high schools (Classes 1 to 8), and all girls, will receive financial assistance for SSK uniforms. In total, 8,00,193 students have been distributed uniforms.