Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 1 (UNI) As many as 5,05,201 students will be appearing in this year's SSLC examinations, commencing on March 14.

Of this 2,31,569 candidates are girls. The total number of candidates in the SC/ST category, who have registered for the examination was 47,568, Kerala Education Minister M A Baby told reporters here today.

There would be 2,712 examination centres this year. Of this, 16 were in the Gulf region and nine in the Lakshadweep islands.

All arrangements had been made for the exams, which would be foolproof. The Education Department along with the Home Ministry would be dealing with the security arrangements, he said.

The candidates, who have registered in the school going category were 4,58,785 and those appearing for the secondary were 31,825.

Altogether 14,591 candidates would be appearing as private candidates.

The total number of candidates appearing in Malayalam medium stream was 3,97,837 and 54,890 candidates from the English medium.

While 2513 candidates were from the Tamil medium schools, 3,545 from the Kannada stream.

Among the government schools, the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Cotton Hill, Thiruvananthapuram, had registered the maximum number of 917 candidates while in the aided category, Saint Mary's High School, Thiruvananthapuram. had the highest candidate of 1362. The government High School, Thekkekara, has the least number of five candidates registered, followed by NSS High School, Muvatupuzha -- nine candidates.

Beginning on March 14, the exams would end on March 27.

UNI