Thiruvananthapuram: In a major move to uplift academic standards in public schools, the Kerala government will implement minimum mark requirements for students in Classes 5, 6, and 7 starting from the 2025-26 academic year, Education Minister V. Sivankutty announced. This decision comes after the successful rollout of the policy in Class 8, which garnered positive responses from students, parents, and educators alike.
Under the new system, students who score less than 30% in their annual written exams will have to appear for re-examinations. However, promotion up to Class 9 will not be withheld based on these results. Special vacation classes will be conducted to help underperforming students prepare for re-tests, which will only be required in subjects where the student falls short. Class 8 re-examinations are scheduled from April 25 to 28.
Starting from the 2026-27 academic year, the SSLC (Class 10) board exams will also see a significant change. To pass, students must score at least 30% in the written exam for each subject. The current system—where students can pass with just 10% in the written test due to a 20% continuous assessment—will be scrapped.
To support students ahead of this transition, those who score below 30% in SSLC model exams will receive special coaching before the final exam. These reforms aim to raise learning outcomes and ensure a more rigorous and supportive academic environment for Kerala’s students.
