THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Doing away with its ‘all-pass policy’, the government has decided to introduce the ‘subject minimum’ criteria in exams in Class VIII from this academic year, in a move aimed at raising the standards of school education.
The criteria, under which scoring at least 30% marks in the theory component in each paper will be mandatory, will also be implemented in Class IX from 2025-26 and Class X from 2026-27. An education conclave organised by the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) in May had recommended implementing the ‘subject minimum’ policy in the theory component of SSLC exam. The suggestion came after the success rate in the exam hovered close to 100% in the past few years, raising questions on the present method of evaluation.
However, instead of implementing the reform directly in SSLC exam, the cabinet, in its Wednesday meeting, decided to introduce it in a phased manner, starting from Class VIII.
At present, for an exam of 50 marks, a student who secures full marks of 10 in continuous evaluation/practical needs to score only five marks in theory to secure an overall minimum pass (30%). For a paper of 100 marks, scoring just 10 marks in the theory component will earn minimum overall pass marks (30%), provided the student gets full 20 marks in continuous evaluation/practical.
‘Continuous evaluation must be carried out purely on merit’
There have been widespread complaints over the practice of awarding full marks at the school level for the continuous evaluation component.
Now, with insistence on minimum 30% marks in the theory component, a student will have to score at least 12 marks out of 40 on a 50-mark paper and 24 marks out of 80 on a 100-mark paper to be declared ‘pass’.
In his report to the government following the conclave, the director of general education (DGE) recommended that continuous evaluation in schools be carried out purely on merit.
For students who are academically backward, remedial classes and re-examination should be conducted.
The cabinet also decided to hold district-level conclaves to discuss implementation of the subject minimum criteria. Committees to support the initiatives for improving the standards of education will be formed at the level of district education officers and assistant educational officers. The support of local bodies, PTA representatives, education experts and teachers unions will be ensured.