Kochi: The Kerala High Court has suggested the State government to allow 28 students from Arooja's Little Star School Moolamkuzhi in Kochi - who were unable to write the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) Class 10 examination because their school was not affiliated to the board - to take the State board examination (SSLC) examination, beginning on March 10.

Justice S V Bhatti, who mooted the suggestion, felt that students would not lose an academic year if the state government takes a positive decision.

When the State government pleader pointed out that students may not be ready to attend the state board exam because of the difference in syllabus, the court said it was up to the parents and students to decide.

Apart from 28 students from Arooja's school, six other students, who opted the school as centre, too could not write the exam, taking the total number of students who missed the CBSE exam to 34.

HC raps CBSE

On Thursday, the High Court asked the CBSE Regional Officer to explain the measures the board took against unrecognised schools in the state on March 4. 

Slamming the CBSE, the court said the board's callous approach had resulted in the present situation. 

 "Arooja's school has been functioning for the last seven years. What have you been doing all these years?" the court asked.

The court asked the Station House Officer of the Thoppumpady police station – where an FIR has been registered against the Arooja's school management - to appear before it on March 4. 

CBSE's statement

On Tuesday, the CBSE had informed the High Court that the management of Arooja's School committed a grievous an error by allowing 28 students to continue their education without obtaining CBSE affiliation.

The board further said no school would be allowed to register students for Class 9 without getting recognition from the State government and affiliation to the CBSE.

It said Arooja's school could not fulfil CBSE's affiliation criteria. "The board had asked the school to build a composite science and mathematics lab. The school's classrooms, computer science lab and library were small in size and the school was asked to procure minimum 1500 books," the board said.