Kerala’s only Sainik School is in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram
The one and only Sainik School in Kerala has opened its doors to a revolution of sorts. The Sainik School at Kazhakoottam in Thiruvananthapuram, has offered admissions to girls for the first time in its history.
Established in 1962, the Sainik School in Kazhakoottam, in the Kerala capital, has, this year, begun classes for its first batch of girls who passed the All India Sainik School Entrance Examination for the academic year 2020-21, held recently.
The first girl batch of the school comprises seven students from Kerala, two from Bihar, and one from Uttar Pradesh. The Kazhakoottam Sainik School Principal Col. Dhirendra Kumar welcomed the new batch of students to the historic campus.
Over the past year, the school had been setting up all amenities needed to admit girl students for the first time. Infrastructure development, new residential quarters, dormitory, and other facilities have already come up at the campus.
All 33 Sainik Schools in India to have girl students
The country currently has as many as 33 Sainik Schools. However, till recently girl students had not been admitted to these schools. It was in the 2018-19 academic year that the Sainik School Society in Mizoram had admitted girl students for the first time, thereby creating history.
Following this, in the years that ensued, more schools began admitting students. The admission of girls to Sainik Schools was prompted by the thought that girls too could be imparted training to join the armed forces.
10% seats in Sainik Schools set aside for girl students
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, in his speech on the occasion of the 75th Independence Day, assured that all 33 Sainik Schools in the country will admit girl students.
Following this, 10 percent seats in these schools were reserved girl students across the institutions under the Sainik School Society in the country.