The Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority (KSLMA) is all set to roll out across the State what is considered to be a first-of-its-kind continuous education programme for transgenders.
The project named ‘Samanwaya’ will be launched by Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma in Kollam on January 28. So far, 145 transgenders have registered for Class 4, 7, 10 and higher secondary equivalent courses across the State.
Out of this, most number of participants have registered for Class 10 (61) and higher secondary (44) equivalent courses. Fifteen transgenders have registered for Class 4 and 25 for Class 7 equivalent courses.
Separate classes will be held for transgenders in all districts wherever at least 10 transgenders have registered for a course. Where the number is less than 10, they will attend the general classes run by the KSLMA.
As such, separate classes will be held for transgenders registered for Class 10 and higher secondary equivalent courses in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts. In Pathanamthitta district, separate classes for higher secondary equivalent course will be conducted as 29 transgenders have registered for the course.
In Thiruvananthapuram district, 10 transgenders each have registered for Class 10 and higher secondary equivalent courses whereas in Kollam district 20 and 15 transgenders respectively have registered for the two courses. One separate class will also be held in Alappuzha district. Each class will have a transgender coordinator.
The selection of instructors for the project is in the final stages. Class 4 equivalent course will be conducted by KSLMA Preraks who have passed SSLC, while Class 7 equivalent course will be led by graduates, preferably with additional qualification of teachers’ training course. Tenth equivalent classes will be led by graduates with B.Ed qualification while for higher secondary, instructors with post-graduation and B.Ed, who have cleared the State Eligibility Test, will lead the classes.
