Amid growing concerns of COVID-19 in Kerala, the education department has decided to cancel the terminal examinations which are called as Onam and Christmas exams.
General education department secretary A Shajahan informed that SCERT director was directed to submit recommendations to reschedule the academic calendar based on the new guidelines including the cancellation of the exams. SCERT director was asked to submit the report within two weeks.
Meanwhile, it is recommended that the academic year which will end in March should be extended to April-May. The curriculum committee also examined the online classes which are being conducted as schools remain closed due to the pandemic.
It was examined that only two-hour-long classes are given to students in high school and 30 minutes of long classes are given to primary and upper primary students. So far, 20 percent of the syllabus was covered through online classes.
However, the state government asserted that the schools will remain shut till December. If the schools are opened, classes should be conducted every day. It is also recommended that the annual exams should be conducted in May.
A few days back, the government has taken a firm stand that the school syllabus for the current academic year will not be reduced. The syllabus of each class includes the lessons which should be taught to the student at a particular age. So, it is impossible to reduce the syllabus. If necessary, some parts will be avoided for examination, observed the curriculum committee.
