Tamil Nadu schools told not to hold special classes during quarterly exam holidays

The Tamil Nadu School Education Department has issued a directive to headteachers across the state, instructing them not to conduct special classes for students during the upcoming quarterly examination holidays. The department has warned that headteachers will be held responsible for any breaches of this directive or any untoward incidents that may occur during this period.

This instruction applies to all categories of schools in Tamil Nadu, with the holiday period scheduled from September 26 to October 4, 2026. The move is intended to provide students with a necessary break from regular academic pressure following their examinations, particularly benefiting those in Classes 10 and 12, who have historically been subjected to special classes during such breaks.

Holiday Directive and Student Well-Being

The primary objective of the Tamil Nadu School Education Department’s directive is to ensure that students receive adequate time away from regular classes after completing their quarterly examinations. Students following the state syllabus are currently undergoing their quarterly examinations, which commenced on September 16 and conclude on September 25, 2026. The subsequent break is designed to ease pressure on pupils, allowing them to rest and recuperate.

In previous academic years, schools, especially for Classes 10 and 12, have conducted special classes during quarterly breaks. This year’s instruction specifically targets this practice, with the department emphasizing that the declared holiday must be observed even where schools might ordinarily schedule extra coaching for board examination students. The department has also advised against students undertaking trips during this break.

Guidance for Continued Learning at Home

While special classes at school are prohibited, the department has outlined a framework for continued academic engagement at home. Subject teachers have been instructed to advise students to complete assignment question papers during the holidays. Additionally, teachers are to guide students on studying one subject each day.

These directions are designed to enable pupils to continue their preparation independently without being required to attend school for special classes. For examination classes, revision during the break is to be guided through these assignments and daily study advice, rather than through formal classroom sessions. Headteachers are mandated to ensure that their staff adhere to this holiday directive.

Past Precedents and Compliance Measures

The current directive aligns with previous efforts by the Tamil Nadu School Education Department to manage academic pressure during holidays. In the 2025-26 academic year, the Directorate of School Education and the Directorate of Private Schools issued strict instructions to all schools across Tamil Nadu against engaging students in special classes during the Christmas holidays, which ran from a Tuesday until January 4. Similarly, in a previous year, the quarterly exams holiday for Classes VI to XII was extended from October 1 to 9.

Furthermore, in a previous year, online classes and the telecast of video lessons on television channels were suspended from September 21 to 25 to reduce stress among school students. During that period, all schools, including private institutions, were monitored by block-level officers to ensure compliance and check whether classes were being conducted during the five-day break. These past actions underscore the department’s consistent focus on student well-being during examination breaks.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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