Thiruvananthapuram: Eighteen members of the transgender community in Kerala have cleared their higher secondary equivalency course examination conducted by the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority (KSLMA) with flying colours, enabling them to pursue further education.
This is the first batch which has cleared the higher secondary (12th standard) equivalency examination.
Kerala, the first state to implement a transgender policy, had introduced 'Samanwaya', a continuing education programme drawn out by the KSLMA and the Social Justice Department in 2018, for mainstreaming the transgender community.
"A total of 22 people attended the examination and 18 have cleared it from various districts, including Pathnamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam," a KSLMA press release said.
Karthick, an autorickshaw driver, who cleared the examination, has got admission in the Kerala Univeristy's BA History group, KSLMA sources said.
Until now, a total of 39 people from the transgender community have passed the Class 10 equivalency course and currently 30 are pursuing it.