Thiruvananthapuram: The requirement of a minimum of 30% marks in the annual examination for promotion to the next class—currently applicable to class 8 students in Kerala syllabus schools—will be extended to classes 5 and 6 from the upcoming academic year. The rule will be implemented in class 7 the following year.

The government had earlier announced that this promotion criterion would apply to class 9 students from 2025-26 and to class 10 students from 2026-27. The latest decision, announced by General Education Minister V Sivankutty, marks an expansion of the system to the upper primary level.

Once fully implemented in 2026-27, students in all upper primary and high school classes will need to secure at least 30% marks in all subjects to be promoted. Those who fail to meet the minimum requirement will have to appear for a re-test, though promotions will not be denied up to class 9. Such students must attend special vacation classes and take a re-test, but only in the subjects in which they did not meet the 30% mark. This year’s re-test is scheduled from April 25 to 28, following the same procedure currently used in class 8.

From the 2026-27 academic year onwards, a minimum of 30% marks in all subjects will also be mandatory in the SSLC (class 10 public) examination to qualify for higher studies. With this, the existing system—which allows students to pass SSLC with just 10% marks in the written exam and 20% through continuous evaluation—will be discontinued. Authorities have also decided to hold special classes for class 10 students who fail to secure 30% in the model exam ahead of the SSLC exam.

“The new decisions are aimed at ensuring that all students meet a basic academic standard,” Minister Sivankutty said. “We are extending the qualifying mark requirement to lower classes after seeing the success of the system in class 8. It has received widespread support, including from teachers. Our aim is not to fail any student, but to ensure academic standards for all. It is the teachers’ responsibility to implement the new system,” he added.

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