The Kerala government has announced the postponement of SSLC and higher secondary examinations at Gulf centers due to the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Kerala’s Education Minister, V. Sivankutty, said that revised dates for the exams would be announced later.
"Given the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, conducting exams in the Gulf region has become a significant challenge. As a result, the SSLC exam scheduled for March 5, and the Higher Secondary exams set for March 5, 6, and 7 in Gulf centers, have been postponed," Sivankutty said.
"We understand that many students, both in the Gulf and Kerala, are anxious as they may not be able to reach their exam centers. The Department of General Education fully supports these students," he added.
Sivankutty said the students who are unable to sit for the exams due to travel difficulties can submit an application through their class teachers or principals to the Director of General Education.
"The department will review each case individually and make decisions in the best interest of the students," he said.
Kerala has a large expatriate population in the Gulf, with thousands of students appearing for state board exams at Gulf centers each year. Currently, there are seven centers for 633 Class 10 students in the region.
The joint US-Israel strike on Iran and the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict, with Iran retaliating by targeting neighboring countries hosting US military bases.
