Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 7: Karnataka's Class 10 students who have less than 75% attendance will be barred from appearing for the second and third SSLC examinations this year.

The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) issued a circular informing school authorities that students with inadequate attendance will need to seek re-admission during the 2025-26 academic year.

Last year, during the March/April 2024 SSLC exams, the KSEAB had permitted students with less than 75% attendance to sit for the second and third exams. However, a senior KSEAB official clarified that this year, the board would not be making any exceptions.

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"As there is a provision for re-admission, we have decided not to allow students with less than 75% attendance to sit for the second and third exams," the official explained. "We are following directives from the government on this matter," the official added.

In 2024, over 15,000 students faced attendance shortages. "Given the large number of affected students and following the government's guidance, we allowed those over 15 years of age to register as private candidates for the second and third exams. As a result, over 8,000 students registered, and around 2,000 successfully passed," the official added.

KSEAB officials emphasised that all three exams are considered equal, with the best score taken into account for final results. "When this is the case, why should we allow students with attendance shortages to sit for the second and third exams?" questioned the senior KSEAB official.

The KSEAB circular further instructed school authorities not to upload internal assessment (IA) scores for students with less than 75% attendance. The attendance must be calculated up to the day before the first examination, and no admission tickets will be generated for such students.

The SSLC exams for this year are scheduled to take place between March 21 and April 4.