Kerala Puts Minimum Marks Rollout for Classes VIII to X on Hold

The government has decided to temporarily hold back an order that would have extended the minimum-marks requirement to classes VIII, IX and X in the 2026-27 academic year.

The measure was among the most closely watched decisions of the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. In 2024, the LDF approved a 30% minimum in the theory component of every subject in school examinations, part of a push to raise educational quality after widespread criticism that students were not attaining expected learning outcomes.

The reform was rolled out in stages despite resistance from the Kerala School Teachers' Association, which is aligned with the CPI(M), the Students' Federation of India and the Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad. It took effect for class VIII in 2024-25 and was extended to classes VIII and IX in 2025-26. The plan was to cover classes VIII through X in 2026-27.

Alongside the subject minimum, the earlier government emphasised strengthening continuous evaluation and making it merit based. A learning support programme was also introduced, under which students who fell short of the 30% threshold in annual examinations received academic support and were made to reappear for the exams.

The most immediate consequence of the stay is that students sitting for the SSLC examinations will not have to secure a minimum of 30% marks in the theory component of each paper.

The decision has raised concerns that education standards could suffer. The Left-affiliated All Kerala School Teachers Union said abandoning examination reforms in their final phase — when they were due to reach class X — would erode trust in public education. AKSTU general secretary O.K. Jayakrishnan said no discussion had preceded the decision and sought a re-think on the stay.