Kerala SSLC Examinations 2026: Massive Student Turnout with Gulf Centers Postponed
In a significant announcement, Kerala General Education Minister V. Sivankutty revealed on Monday that the Kerala SSLC (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) examinations for the academic year 2025-26 will commence on March 5, 2026. A total of 4,17,497 students have officially registered for the Class 10 board examinations, marking a crucial milestone in the state's educational calendar.
Exam Centers and Regional Adjustments
The examinations will be conducted across 3,031 centers throughout Kerala and beyond. This includes seven centers strategically located in the Gulf region and nine centers in Lakshadweep. However, due to escalating regional security concerns in parts of the Middle East, tests scheduled for March 5, 6, and 7 at the Gulf centers have been postponed indefinitely.
Revised dates for these affected centers will be announced separately by the education department. In contrast, the examinations in Kerala and Lakshadweep will proceed as originally planned and are set to conclude on March 30, 2026.
Official data indicates that 633 candidates are registered in the Gulf centers, while 386 students are enrolled in Lakshadweep centers. The SSLC results are anticipated to be declared by the third week of May 2026, providing timely outcomes for students and parents alike.
Higher Secondary Examination Schedule Aligned
Concurrently, the Higher Secondary (Plus Two) results have been scheduled for release on May 22, 2026. The registration numbers for the Higher Secondary examinations are substantial, with over 4.52 lakh second-year students, 4.11 lakh first-year candidates, and an additional 3.41 lakh first-year improvement applicants signed up for the tests.
The first-year Higher Secondary and Vocational examinations will kick off on March 5, 2026, followed by the second-year examinations starting on March 6. These exams will be held in 1,984 specialised centers across the state, ensuring a streamlined and organised process.
Vocational Higher Secondary Stream Details
For the Vocational Higher Secondary (VHSE) stream, 26,829 first-year and 26,826 second-year regular students are set to appear from 389 dedicated centers. To manage this large cohort, nearly 3,700 teachers have been deployed exclusively for VHSE examination duty.
Valuation of vocational answer scripts will commence on April 6, 2026, at eight designated camps immediately after the theory examinations conclude, facilitating a swift evaluation process.
Massive Administrative Deployment Across Kerala
In preparation for the examinations, the Kerala government has mobilised around 26,000 teachers for invigilation duty across the state. Chief superintendents have been appointed in all centers to ensure strict supervision and adherence to examination norms, maintaining integrity and transparency.
Authorities have confirmed that answer sheets have been distributed to all 41 District Educational Offices. Question papers, after thorough sorting and verification, have been securely stored in treasuries and bank lockers to prevent any potential breaches or leaks.
With lakhs of students poised to enter examination halls from March 5, 2026, the state's education department has activated a full-scale administrative mechanism. This comprehensive effort aims to ensure the smooth, secure, and transparent conduct of both the SSLC and Higher Secondary examinations, upholding Kerala's commitment to educational excellence.
