Kochi: The conduct of the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) test amidst the second-term examination schedule has landed Class-8 students in Kerala in a spot. The date of the scholarship examination has been rescheduled to December 17, but this clashes with the ongoing second-term examination of Kerala Board schools ahead of the Christmas holidays.
The second-term examination began on December 14. As per the timetable, two exams have been scheduled for December 16 during the morning and evening sessions. Hence, the applicants may not be able to do their last round of preparations for the NMMS exam on the eve of the test.
The scholarship examination is conducted by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development for the Union Ministry of Education, in order to encourage and support deserving students from economically weaker sections, with a scholarship.
The Office of the Commissioner of Government Examinations conducts the scholarship examination for the General Education Department in Kerala. The NMMS examination was earlier scheduled to be held on December 10, however, that was postponed.
Several parents blamed official oversight for the predicament.
The scholarship examination could have been conducted during the Christmas holidays or in January, but has been fixed in between the second-term exams due to poor planning, allege parents.
NMMS Exam
Class-8 students with government or government-aided schools are eligible to apply for the scholarship examination. The criteria specify that the applicant’s annual family income must not exceed Rs 3.5 lakh and the applicant must have passed with an aggregate of 55 per cent marks in the Class 7 second-term exams.
The examination includes a 90-minute mental ability test and another 90-minute scholastic aptitude test. The students who score a specified per cent of marks in both tests would get Rs 1,000 each every month, from Classes 9 to 12.