Mulling need for exams in Class I, says Kerala Minister

The government will consider if examinations have to be conducted for Class I students, Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty has said.

He was speaking after inaugurating the valedictory of an anganwadi fete at Manjampara lower primary school, Vattiyurkavu, here on Saturday.

The Minister said examinations in Class I were currently a serious affair. The government was mulling whether to conduct examinations in Class I or not. Students’ mental health should not be compromised by making them fear examinations or become anxious about it. Students should learn things not only inside textbooks but also outside it.

Mr. Sivankutty said students should be allowed to play. Action was taken as soon as it came to his attention that they were being made to study during holidays. Children should enjoy the holidays even as they learn.

V.K. Prasanth, MLA, who presided over the event said those who had made fun of the Minister for ensuring timely distribution of textbooks had become objects of ridicule themselves. A comparison of schools as they were a decade ago and their situation now would show that photostats of textbooks did not have to be taken today. The government in power before the Left Democratic Front formed the government had not been able to ensure that textbooks for the next academic year were ready in time, the MLA pointed out.

Various anganwadis took part in the fete.