Thiruvananthapuram, 20 September (H.S.):The Kerala General Education Department has suspended the proposed rule requiring SSLC students to secure at least 30 per cent marks in the written examination in every subject to qualify for a pass.

The subject-wise minimum-mark requirement will not be introduced during the current academic year. The government plans to consider implementing it from the next academic year after conducting a detailed assessment of its academic and practical implications.

However, the minimum-mark system introduced for Classes VIII and IX during the previous government’s tenure will continue. The rule was implemented in Class VIII in the 2024-25 academic year and extended to Class IX in 2025-26.

The previous LDF government had decided to introduce the requirement for Class X students this year. Under the proposed system, students would have to score at least 30 per cent in the written examination of each subject, irrespective of their continuous evaluation marks.

General Education Minister N Shamsudheen said the proposal had been temporarily frozen as several practical issues needed closer examination. He has directed the Director of General Education to study the matter comprehensively and submit a report.

The department’s decision is understood to have been influenced by concerns that the measure could substantially reduce the SSLC pass percentage and disrupt higher secondary admissions. An assessment reportedly indicated that introducing a subject-wise minimum could bring the overall success rate down to between 60 and 65 per cent.

Officials also feared that a sharp fall in the number of successful students could leave a significant number of Plus One seats vacant and eventually result in the loss of teaching posts.

Under the existing system, continuous evaluation carries 20 per cent of the total marks. Consequently, a student receiving the full internal score could pass a subject with only about 10 per cent in the written examination. The proposed reform sought to change this by making a minimum score of 30 per cent in the written examination compulsory for every subject.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman