Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday announced the cancellation of the public examination for Class 11 from the current academic year, in line with the newly unveiled State Education Policy (SEP).

Releasing the policy here, Chief Minister M K Stalin said the move was aimed at reducing academic stress and aligning with the objectives of the new education framework. Public exams will now be conducted only for Classes 10 and 12, while the existing policy of automatic promotion up to Class 8 will continue.

The Chief Minister, addressing a felicitation event for government school students, said education should not be abandoned midway for any reason and asserted that government schools were a matter of pride, not poverty.

“We want to nurture students who think and ask questions, not just memorise and reproduce,” he said, outlining the SEP's focus on creativity, bilingual proficiency in Tamil and English, and integration of physical education with academics.

Stalin also highlighted that 75 per cent of school students had entered higher education this year and urged them to help raise the figure to 100 per cent. “No matter your background, show your mettle and conquer,” he told students.

The SEP reiterates Tamil Nadu's commitment to a bilingual policy, with Tamil as the primary identity and pride, while ensuring English proficiency.