Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty inaugurated a new block for higher secondary and vocational higher secondary examination wings at Pareeksha Bhavan, Poojappura, and a project to revamp the Pareeksha Bhavan software here on Friday.

Efficiency in conduct of examinations will increase with the scattered examination system all coming together at Pareeksha Bhavan, the Minister said on the occasion.

It will also be possible for students to get various services, including certificates, from a single centre.

The Minister said bringing the SSLC, higher secondary, and vocational higher secondary examination wings under a single umbrella as part of the Public Education Rejuvenation Mission was an important decision of the government. As a result, the higher secondary and vocational higher secondary exam wings were shifted from Housing Board buildings at Santhi Nagar to Pareeksha Bhavan at Poojappura.

The higher secondary exam wing alone had 1,984 exam centres across Kerala, Lakshadweep, Mahe, and the Gulf region and nearly 12 lakh students under it. It conducted around seven public examinations a year.

The Minister said the government had sanctioned ₹1.63 lakh for revamping 20-odd software used at Pareeksha Bhavan. This was necessary to avoid delays in announcement of results and distribution of certificates. The Centre for Development of Imaging Technology would revamp the software, the Minister said.

Director of General Education NSK Umesh, Pareeksha Bhavan Secretary Santhosh Kumar S., Additional Director Santhosh C.A., joint commissioner Gireesh Cholayil, and joint director examinations K. Manikya Raj were present.