Taking a cue from Telangana, the Tamil Nadu government today cancelled Class 10 Board examination and declared all students as having passed.

Making an announcement today, Chief Minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami said that the decision to cancel the Class 10 examination was taken after considering concerns of parents to hold the examinations in view of the increase in coronavirus cases. Medical experts also felt that there is no possibility of the spread of the infection reducing in the near future, he told newspersons.

Around nine lakh students were scheduled to take the Class 10 Board examination from June 15.

On calculation of marks, the Chief Minister said that 80 per cent marks would be awarded based on the students’ performance in quarterly and half-yearly examinations. The students’ attendance will be taken into consideration to award the balance 20 per cent marks.

The State government’s decision to cancel the Class 10 examinations follows strong opposition by the DMK and its allies, and also by the ruling party’s ally, the PMK, in holding the examination when the coronavirus infection is increasing.

The Madras High Court too, on Monday, questioned the State government’s hurry to conduct the examinations when Covid-19 cases were on the rise.

The pending examination for Class 11 also stands cancelled, announced Palaniswami.

comment COMMENT NOW