Despite concerns over increasing COVID-19 cases, the Kerala government yesterday has decided to proceed with the ongoing SSLC and Plus Two examinations in the state, adhering to strict health protocol and intense precautionary measures. The general education department here said the exams would be conducted as per the original schedule and adequate precautionary measures have already been taken to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and other staff.
The government has also announced that steps have already been taken to ensure students follow social distancing while writing exams, the Director of General Education ((DPI) said here in a statement. Teachers, non-teaching staff, and students were advised to use triple-layer masks, it said, adding that chief exam superintendents were directed to ensure entry of students in the school compound only after checking their body temperature.
Nearly nine lakh students are appearing for the exams in over 4,951 centers. Last year, the board exams were affected due to the pandemic, and several papers were conducted later in May and the results were released in June.
The annual Secondary School Leaving Certificate and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)exams began in Kerala on April 8. The SSLC exams were scheduled to be held till April 29 while the plus two exams were decided to be conducted till April 26. Nearly nine lakh students are appearing for the exams in over 4,951 centers. Arrangements have been made at the school level for students, who are COVID positive, those under quarantine, and also those having high body temperature, to write exams, it said.
