Education department targets A+ for all, rejigs co-curricular works

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Targeting ‘A+ for all’ in SSLC examinations next year, the general education department has decided to wind up all extracurricular activities – including school arts festival (Kalolsavam) – by December 31 so that students can concentrate on final exams during January and February.
Hence, the famed Kalolsavam will be held at Alappuzha from December 5 to 9 after completing school-level festivals in September, sub-district-level competitions in October and district-level festivals by November first week.The state science festival will be held from November 9 to 11, while state-level ‘Sargotsavam’ will be held from December 27 to 30.
SSLC model examinations will be held early in February and the plan is to give individual attention to students who happen to score low marks in model examinations. Special training will be given to students in subjects they find tough from February 15 to 28.
As per the academic calendar approved by the department, schools will reopen on June 1 and there will be 201 working days, including eight Saturdays. The first-term examinations will be held from August 30, while the second-term examinations will be held from December 12 to 20.
The annual examinations for classes one to nine will be held during the 3rd week of February, while SSLC, Higher Secondary and VHSE exams will be held from March 6 to 25.