Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government has approached the Election Commission of India for permission to postpone the SSLC and Plus-Two examinations which were earlier scheduled to begin on March 17 and 24, respectively.
The state government has handed over an official request regarding this to Election Commission, Manorama News reported on Monday.
The move comes amid concern that conducting the exams in March-April would clash with the Assembly polls in the state and create logistical difficulties as classrooms are often utilised for election purposes. Teachers too are roped in for election duties and they are set to commence their training for poll duties shortly.
Earlier, the Left-leaning Kerala State Teachers Association (KSTA) had filed a petition with the state education department seeking to postpone the exams to April. Another teachers' union affiliated to the Congress-led Opposition too had filed a similar petition earlier.
The all-important SSLC or Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination is administered by the Kerala Board of Public Examinations often in March every year. The Plus-Two exams for Senior Secondary Courses are conducted by Directorate of Higher Secondary Education.
The Legislative Assembly Election is scheduled for April 6. The EC will issue notification on March 12. The counting of votes is on May 2.