Karnataka has decided to make grading system for third language in SSLC exam. School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa announced that this will be applicable from SSLC which is ongoing. Announcing the decision at a press conference on Friday, the minister said the third language marks will not be included for the final marks. However, it is mandatory for all students to appear for it. “There will be no fail or pass for this. Only grades will be given,” the minister said. The move comes after a demand by various pro-Kannada organizations that oppose the imposition of Hindi on students. Although Hindi is not the only third language available to students, it is the most chosen subject as most schools offer it. About 1.48 lakh students have failed in Hindi in the last SSLC. In the current SSLC, the third language paper is scheduled on March 31. The minister also added in the press conference that the new age standard for class 1 will be applicable to all schools – CBSE, ICSE, international and state boards. He had announced on Thursday that children who are 5 years, 10 months old can also take admission in Class 1. A two-month grace period also applies to kindergarten classes.
