Kerala class 8 and 9 exams to start on February 24 but syllabus completion is set for March!

Kozhikode: As per the academic calendar, teachers are supposed to finish the syllabus of classes 8 and 9 in March. However, the annual exams are scheduled to begin on February 24, raising concerns among teachers and students. The exam schedule has been prepared based on the annual planning document, but it contradicts the academic timeline.

The situation is concerning for class 9 students. In Biology, for instance, the syllabus includes a total of 80 periods for the academic year. Of these, eight periods are scheduled for February and two in March, yet the exam is set for February 25. Similar issues exist in social science, physics, and chemistry, where portions of the syllabus are planned for completion in March.

February and March are typically designated for revision, but this early examination schedule has left little room for preparation. While the official academic calendar mentions March as the period for annual exams, the schedule now states that exams for classes 8 and 9 will begin on February 24 and conclude by March 27.

Teachers argue that these exams could have been conducted on non-SSLC exam days to avoid disruption. With the SSLC model exams starting on Monday, regular classes for students in classes 8 and 9 will be affected. Many teachers are trying to complete the syllabus by holding special classes.

However, education department officials maintain that there are no major difficulties, claiming that lessons were completed by December itself.