‘Students could pass with five marks; government is gambling with children’s future,’ says V Sivankutty

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Education Minister V Sivankutty has criticised the Education Department’s decision to scrap the subject-wise minimum mark requirement for high school classes, saying the move would undermine public education. He said the decision was taken without adequate academic discussion and would also result in the withdrawal of learning support classes provided to students under the minimum mark system. Sivankutty said the LDF government had introduced the system to improve students’ learning levels following criticism that students who could not read or write were securing A+ grades in Class 10.

“The programme, which sought to support students and help them improve academically and had received recognition at the national level, is now being withdrawn. Scrapping the subject minimum will push students into a dangerous situation where they could pass an examination with just five marks. This amounts to gambling with the future of children,” he said.

Sivankutty also demanded a Vigilance inquiry into reports of alleged corruption in the allotment of Plus One batch seats.

“I doubt whether the department minister is even aware of this. There is an attempt to commercialise education and help aided managements,” he alleged.