Students attend a class. (File)
The AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu has announced that the students of classes 9, 10, and 11 will be promoted to the next class without any examinations. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that the decision was made based on the inputs from medical experts. Experts suggested that the situation is not conducive to conduct exams in view of the pandemic.
"Taking into consideration the unusual situation being faced by teachers and students, the views of parents besides the opinion of experts, the students of standards: 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.
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.
As the entire world battled against the pandemic, the Tamil Nadu government ordered the closure of schools to prevent the spread of the virus.
"The schools were ordered to close from March 25, 2020, to contain the spread of the pandemic and were reopened only for classes 10 and 12 on January 19, after Coronavirus was brought under control considerably," Palaniswami said.
Students who came to school were given vitamin and zinc tablets in order to enhance their immunity.
