ICSE and ISC 2020 Uncertainty

Students from a very young age hear about Class 10 and 12 as the two significant milestones in the initial stages of a person’s career. Students prepare very hard especially for the class 10 board examinations, hearing constant reminders from parents and teachers about the importance of the exam. But this time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICSE and ISC board exams got postponed, with six and eight papers remaining respectively. Most students of the ICSE have 3 to 4 papers remaining, while students of ISC have zero to four papers remaining (depending upon their stream and choice of subjects). The CBSE exams of class 10 and 12 were also postponed, the few lucky could finish all.

During the first phase of lockdown in India, most students of class 10 revised their ICSE syllabus, in anticipation of the exams being conducted anytime soon, while students of other classes had already begun online classes. Slowly, students and schools, both realising that a considerable part of the academic year 2020-21 was being wasted for ICSE students, online classes for the next academic year was initiated.

Many schools assured us that the online classes for Class 11 syllabus would be suspended after announcement of the schedule for the pending ICSE exams . Then, on the 22nd of May, 2020, the CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations)  announced that it would conduct the remaining ICSE exams between 2nd July to 12th July, 2020 and ISC papers between 1st July and 14th July, 2020. This came after CBSE announced its detailed timetable for  conducting the remaining exams. Many State Boards also announced exam dates for their remaining papers. Students again started preparing for the board exams.

After a few days, The Telegraph published a news stating that the CISCE had asked schools to upload the marks of the Pre-Board examinations of all the subjects for which students had registered to appear. This news created great turmoil and confusion as to whether  the Council is planning to Cancel the remaining exams. Later it came to be known that on 3rd June, 2020 the Maharashtra Cabinet Minister, Varsha Gaikwad denied permission for any exams to be conducted in Maharashtra, in light of the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra. A PIL was also filed by a parent of an ICSE student, in the Maharashtra High Court regarding concerns about the safety of so many children, who would be gathering in the examination centres during this ongoing Pandemic. The CISCE, in this regard, submitted an Affidavit which stated that the Union Home Ministry had given permission for  conducting the exams, and hence the Council decided to do so. The CISCE is a National Board and hence has taken all decisions in accordance with the directions of the Union Government. It also dismissed the allegation that CISCE was not concerned about the safety of its students, citing the fact that it had announced the postponement of exams on the 19th of March, much before any national or state lockdown had been announced, only for the safety of students. The Court gave the next date for Hearing as 15th June, 2020. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had been moved, against the conduct of CBSE exams in the month of July.

On the 15th of June, the CISCE put forth a proposal which enabled the students to decide whether they would like to give the board examinations or not. The options were:

a) To take the pending exams as per the timetable issued on 22nd March, 2020. OR

b) To have the final marks of the pending papers based on the Pre-Board marks/ internal assessment marks, with any methodology  that the Council would decide.

The Council also stated that in case the situation in July is not favourable for conducting exams, it would further reassess the situation to decide further.

This came as a relief to many who were apprehensive of sitting in crowded areas for such a long time, in order to give the exam. On the other hand, it is a problem for those who have not done very well in the Pre-Board examinations. A new problem arose as many schools started forcing its students over which option is to be chosen. Most Schools generally exercise strict marking systems in the Pre-Boards to ensure that students do not get overconfident and continue to study with complete dedication. The council realising this, has promised to work out a just and transparent methodology for awarding marks to the students who choose the second option of not giving the exams. It also requested the schools to give the option to the students and not decide for themselves as to what the student must choose.

The students of Classes 10 to 12 are of a very vulnerable age. They have high aspirations and want to do their best in the board exams. To decide whether to write exams or not is too much pressure on their young minds. While on one hand, choosing to write the exam would be a great health hazard, with no guarantee that students would do better than the pre-board, the disruption caused by postponement of exam, loss of momentum, practice and drop in motivation due to lockdown, the second option leaves it entirely on the hands of the Council, as to how much marks they would be awarding based on which prerequisites or criteria. Councils may work out a Grading system the decision for which likely to be taken in a day or two.

We must appreciate that the CISCE has given us the liberty to choose whether or not we want to give exams, especially helpful for those living or having examination centres within containment zones. Wish none of the future batches get impacted by any such circumstances as the current pandemic. 

The Author is a student of Class XI, who is yet to complete the ICSE Examination.