Thrissur: As the name suggests, the Save A Year (SAY) exam is not helping higher secondary students. The SAY or improvement examinations are conducted for those who have not obtained the qualification for higher studies and for those interested in improving their grades, as a way to avoid wasting academic year. However, by the time the examination results are out, admissions to higher education institutions within and outside the state are almost complete.

This year's exams were held in the last week of June. The evaluation is not yet complete. Meanwhile, first-year undergraduate classes began on Tuesday.

Many universities and colleges have also entered the final stages of admission procedures and spot admissions. It is even the last date to apply for admission to courses other than graduate programmes.

Out of the students who appeared for the Plus Two examinations in the state, 96,426 from the general stream and 7,853 from the VHSE stream failed to qualify for higher education.

The SAY and improvement exams are being delayed due to the delay in the announcement of the Higher Secondary general examination results. The Higher Secondary Plus Two examination evaluation was completed at the end of April but was only announced on 22 May.

The last date to apply for admission to the SAY or improvement exam was 27 May. This time, the results were declared two weeks later.

Last year, the certificates were distributed a month after the publication of the SAY or improvement results, which caused many students to lose their admission opportunities.

The Education Department's stubbornness

"If the SAY or improvement exams are not conducted as per the announcement, there is no benefit for students. The Education Department is adamant that Higher Secondary exams will be conducted only after the SSLC results are announced," said S Manoj, General Secretary, AHSTA.