Steer clear of propaganda on SSLC exams: Minister

The police and the General Education department have begun investigating certain attempts to create apprehension among students regarding the question papers for the SSLC examinations, Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty has said.

At a press conference here on Thursday, the Minister said such confusion and panic was being created by those with vested interests, including tuition centres.

Some claimed that 20% of the questions in the SSLC questions papers would be very difficult by linking it to the announcement to reduce the class X syllabus by 25% from next year, the Minister said.

However, these claims were baseless. Though the question papers would be based on the new textbooks for SSLC students, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) had published model question papers on its website to introduce students to the new exam pattern. The new question paper patterns had also been employed for the Onam and Christmas examinations. Programmes to familiarise students with the new exam pattern were also being shown on KITE Victers channel.

The Minister clarified that claims of the Class X syllabus being slashed at one go were incorrect. Any final decision would be taken after examining feedback from the field and prioritising students’ interests.

He pointed out that those behind such false propaganda were not familiar with the secrecy involved in exam preparations such as preparation of question papers and their printing or exam conduct. They were questioning the entire process, sending students and parents into a panic.

He urged students to steer clear of such claims and assured them that no decision that adversely affected them would be taken by the department.