'Many SSLC toppers don't know how to read, write'; Minister Saji Cherian blames Kerala's educational standards

ALAPPUZHA: Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian pulled no punches when he blamed the inferior educational standards in Kerala. According to the minister, most students who passed the SSLC examinations still don’t have the skills to read or write properly. The minister was speaking at the graduation ceremony of a private institution in Alappuzha. He also shed light on the earlier times when it did take students to move mountains to score at least 210 marks in SSLC.

“A good percentage of students who have cleared SSLC are still bereft of the skill to read or write properly. Earlier, getting 210 marks in SSLC was a prized achievement. But now, every student is getting more than 90% marks. If some students fail the exam, it will be portrayed as the government’s failure. Opposition will create an uproar. So it is fit for the government to be liberal while evaluating SSLC papers.

I hope the educational minister stops this trend and adopts some prudent measures. Children these days are so fixated in the world of technology that they can barely differentiate a buffalo from a cow. The only establishments that will continue to be relevant are liquor outlets and hospitals. These two establishments are seeing big progress.” Said Saji Cherian.