Scores of students from Kerala, currently situated in the Middle East, face an uncertain academic future as escalating conflicts in West Asia disrupt scheduled examinations and complicate travel plans. The government has consequently decided to defer key board examinations for expatriate students.
Board Exams Deferred in Gulf Region
The Kerala government has postponed the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) and Higher Secondary examinations for students in the Middle East. The decision comes amid growing security concerns and armed conflict in the region, rendering the conduct of public examinations impossible. The affected examinations were slated to commence on March 5. Revised dates will be announced later. Seven centers across the Middle East were set up for approximately 633 Class 10 students.
"The security situation in the Gulf has made conducting the public exams impossible." - V. Sivankutty, Kerala General Education Minister.
Students Anxious Over Academic Schedule
Back home, parents are reportedly in a state of heightened worry, actively seeking flight tickets and contacting educational institutions for assurances. Some institutions, however, are proceeding with their examination schedules, creating a complex situation for students caught between conflict zones and academic deadlines. Letters have been issued by institutions, including an engineering college in Ernakulam, to airlines, requesting priority for students stranded in Dubai for ticket bookings, as their examinations are scheduled for later this month.
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Broader Impact on Indian Students
The current geopolitical stand-off involving Iran, Israel, and the United States has stranded an estimated 3,000 Indian students in Iran. Efforts to secure their safe evacuation are reportedly in a state of flux. The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association and parents have appealed to the Prime Minister for urgent intervention to ensure the safe return of these students. The Indian Embassies in Tehran and Kuwait are reportedly in contact with the stranded individuals.
University Standpoint
Sources from APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) indicate that the institution has not yet officially registered cases of students stranded in West Asia, despite reports of academic anxieties among those affected.
Examination Context
Exams within Kerala are proceeding as planned, with the SSLC examinations scheduled to commence on March 5 and conclude on March 30. This stands in contrast to the postponements affecting expatriate students.
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