Intro
In a significant move aimed at easing academic stress among secondary school students, Karnataka’s School Education and Literacy Minister S. Madhu Bangarappa has announced a series of reforms in the SSLC examination system.
Bengaluru
Addressing the media, the minister stated that the third language component in SSLC examinations will now be shifted to a grading system instead of the existing marks-based evaluation. Until now, students were assessed out of 625 marks, with 100 marks allocated to the third language. Under the new system, students will no longer be categorized as pass or fail in the third language. Instead, grades such as A, B, C, or D will be awarded, and these scores will not be included in the final aggregate marks.
The minister clarified that this rule will apply uniformly to all third languages offered in the curriculum, including Hindi, Sanskrit, Tulu, Marathi, and Arabic. An official government order detailing these changes is expected to be issued shortly.
In another important initiative, the government has introduced Moral Science education for students starting from the current academic year. Free textbooks will be provided to students, reflecting the government’s commitment to nurturing responsible and ethical citizens.
The minister also highlighted a proposal to restrict social media usage for children below the age of 16, citing concerns over mental health and the long-term impact on students’ futures. The proposal has received strong support during discussions in the Assembly. However, he emphasized that the issue cannot be addressed by the government alone and urged parents to take greater responsibility in monitoring their children’s mobile phone usage. Reiterating the government’s broader vision, the minister stated that strengthening public schools, ensuring transparency, and reducing exam-related stress remain key priorities. As part of these efforts, the system of conducting three annual examinations has been implemented, allowing students multiple opportunities to improve their performance and secure better scores.