On Thursday afternoon, Suresh Kumar S, Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Government of Karnataka announced the time-table for the Secondary Level School Certificate exams (SSLC). The exams will begin on June 14, 2021 and end on June 26, 2021. In a meeting with the media, he said, "We have allotted one day gap for exams of core subjects like Maths, Science, Social Science and English because students have been requesting this since the beginning of this academic year. However, if students or parents have objections with our tentative time-table for the SSLC exams this year, then they can raise an objection or submit their requests between January 28 to February 26 at the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB)."
Meanwhile, the education minister and his department officials had a more than two-hour long meeting with the Technical Advisory Committee today afternoon. Explaining the highlights and the discussions of this meeting, he said, "With the suggestions from the parents, education experts, teachers and several committees, we discussed conducting regular classes for class 10 and PUC 2 students. We also submitted them several reports of how schools and colleges across the state are following standard operating procedures (SOP). In fact, I have visited different districts and cities in the last 28 days just to observe how Vidyagama has been happening. During my visit to one of the government schools in Madhugiri, a student came and requested me not to stop the Vidyagama classes for them. We have realised in the last 28 days that the students' interest in academics has increased and the percentage of attendance is a proof to it. A total of 75 per cent attendance has been recorded in SSLC, PUC 2 and Vidyagama classes. If you look individually, we have recorded 70 per cent attendance for SSLC and 45 per cent for Vidyagama classes."
He further added, "With the suggestions from the members of the Technical Advisory Committee and the data collected over the last 28 days, we have decided to start regular classes for class 9, 10, PUC 1 and 2 from February 1. Though the syllabus has been reduced by 30 per cent, teachers have informed us that they require full day classes to complete the syllabus for their students. For class 6 to 8 students, Vidyagama classes will continue on alternate days. After February 15, we will hold a meeting with the TAC again and decide on opening Vidyagama for the remaining classes of 1 to 5. However, keeping the pandemic situation in mind, we have not made 75 per cent attendance compulsory for any student."
