The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) and Plus-Two examinations in Kerala will continue as per the original schedule, the Department of General and Higher Education informed on Sunday.

"We have not received any requests to postpone or cancel the examinations," department director Jeevan Babu said.

"The examinations will be conducted following all COVID guidelines," he added.

The district and sub-district authorities have been directed to take all precautionary measures in schools.

The district and sub-district authorities have been directed to take all precautionary measures in schools.

The statement comes even as the state is battling a surge in COVID cases. On Sunday, 18,257 new cases were reported in the state taking the number of active cases well past 90,000.

Various university examinations scheduled to be held in Kerala next week have been postponed in wake of the recent COVID surge.

On Sunday, Governor Arif Muhammed Khan had directed University vice-chancellors to postpone the exams.

Various leaders including Shashi Tharoor and Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala too had taken to social media urging the government to cancel all examinations.

The Plus-Two exams are set to conclude on April 26 and the SSLC exams will end on April 29.