Govt. implementation of minimum marks in Keralam schools remains

The government has decided to temporarily suspend the regulations introducing minimum marks for classes VIII, IX and X in the academic year 2026-27.

The introduction of minimum marks was one of the most significant and debated decisions of the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.

In 2024, the LDF approved the introduction of a minimum of 30% marks in the theoretical component of each subject in school examinations as part of steps to improve the quality of education. The decision was made after criticism from many quarters that students were not achieving the desired learning outcomes.

Despite opposition from the pro-CPI(M) Kerala School Teachers’ Association, the Students’ Federation of India and the Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad, the LDF government started implementing it in the academic year 2024-25 for Class VIII students and in 2025-26 for Class VIII and IX students. It was to be implemented for classes VIII to X in the academic year 2026-27.

Along with the introduction of the industry minimum, the government of the time advocated for the strengthening of continuous evaluation and its creation on the basis of merit.

A learning support program was also launched so that students who did not obtain 30% of the minimum marks in the annual examinations were given academic support and forced to re-apply for the examinations.

But most importantly, students appearing for the SSLC exams will not have to worry about securing a minimum of 30% marks in the theory portion of each paper.

There are concerns that the decision to leave the minimum grades in place will have an adverse impact on educational standards.

In a statement, the Left-affiliated All Kerala School Teachers Union said abandoning the examination reforms, which were introduced to ensure that students achieve academically and meet academic standards, at the final stage when they were to be introduced in Class X would destroy confidence in public education. There was no discussion before the decision was taken, AKSTU general secretary OK Jayakrishnan said in a bid to reconsider maintaining the implementation of the minimum mark.

Published – 19 Sep 2026 21:27 IST