The annual madrasa public examination conducted by the Samastha Kerala Islam Matha Vidyabhyasa Board began at 6,842 centres across the country on Saturday. Board officials said the two-day exams were the largest madrasa exams in the world.
As many as 2.23 lakh students from 9,698 madrasas around the world are taking the Samastha examinations. The Board conducts annual public examinations for Classes 5, 7, 10 and 12.
Apart from Kerala, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Karnataka and Andamans, the exams were held in Malaysia, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
As many as 1,04,750 students are taking Class 5 exams. Among them are 52,935 boys and 51,815 girls. In Class 7, as many as 81,722 students are taking the exams. Among them are 39,480 boys and 42,242 girls. As many as 32,510 students are taking the Class 10 exams. Among them are 15,951 boys and 16,559 girls. The number of students taking Class 12 exams is 4,169. Among them are 2,138 boys and 2,031 girls.
As many as 8,940 supervisors and 135 superintendents are manning the examinations. The exams will conclude on Sunday.
The Samastha Board will hold separate exams for Class 12 students who are taking the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Sunday.
Such students will take their Class 12 madrasa exams at special centres on Wednesday morning.
