India's Tamil Nadu declares students of classes 9-11 as pass without exams

2021-02-25 13:05:40 GMT2021-02-25 21:05:40(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

NEW DELHI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The local government in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on Thursday announced that all students of class 9, 10 and 11 will not have to take exams and declared them "all pass."

The decision was taken in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement was made by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

"Taking into consideration the unusual situation being faced by teachers and students, the views of parents besides the opinion of experts, the students of standard 9, 10 and 11, facing the annual board exams in 2020-21 education year, are announced as passed without writing the examinations," the chief minister said.

The minister said throughout the year the students were taught through the state-run Kalvi Tholaikatchi (education TV channel).

"The syllabus was downsized by taking into account the practical difficulties of the teachers and students," Palaniswami added.

Classwork resumed for students of classes 10 and 12 in January 2021.

Examinations for class 12 in the state will be conducted from May 3 to May 21. The state board examinations are usually held in March but were postponed due to the pandemic.

Tamil Nadu is one of the seven states that has seen a spike in the daily new cases of COVID-19. Enditem

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