The Tamil Nadu government has ordered schools to close again for all ninth, tenth and eleventh grade students as of March 22, 2021. However, classes for twelfth grade students will continue to be offered at the institutions. Depending on the order, all offline classes for students in grades 9-11 will be suspended as of March 22 until new orders are placed. The decision was made amid growing COVID-19 cases in the state.
In an official statement, the director of public health and preventive medicine noted that the upward trend in COVID cases is, among other things, a public health problem. It is also noted that in these circumstances it is not advisable to continue classes for students on the 9th, 10th and 11th.
As for 12th graders, the ministry said they could be allowed to work as the number of students would be less and they would have to take board exams.
As a result, the Tamil Nadu government ordered the closure of schools for grades 9, 10 and 11 with effect from March 22, 2021 pending further orders. Online or digital courses will continue for all of these students. The request also extends to shelters.
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Other than that, board exams would also be allowed for tenth graders (for non-TN Board boards). For these students, special classes for tenth graders and shelters for these students would continue to operate.
After closing closed schools, Tamil Nadu had allowed schools to reopen to students in grades 10 and 12 starting on January 31 and grades 9 and 11 starting on February 8, 2021. It was also allowed for the shelters to reopen.
The government announced in February its decision to cancel the 10th and 11th grade or SSLC, HSE + 1 exams. Based on the quote above, students in grades 9, 10 and 11 must be promoted based on an internal assessment. However, the TN HSE + 2 exams would be conducted according to the schedule published by the Government Examinations Directorate.
