ICSE board exams for classes 10 and 12 deferred, final decision on June first week
- 16 Apr 2021
Syed Shayaan Bakht, Gulf Today
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) postponed the board exams for classes 10 and 12 due to record surge in COVID-19 cases across the country.
ICSE issued a statement on Friday further postponing the tests.
The statement read, “In light of the nationalwide surge in COVID-19 cases, the CICSE has decided to defer the ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) board examinations scheduled to be held from May 4, 2021.
“The COVID-19 situation will be closely monitored and the deferment of the ICSE and ISC 2021 examinations will be reviewed and a final decision on the conduct of the board examinations will be taken on the 1st week of June 2021.”
The authorities said the CISCE would develop "a fair and unbiased criterion" for students who decide not to appear for the offline ICSE Class 10 board exam 2021.
The ICSE also said, “While the ISC (Class XII) examination will be conducted at a later date, the candidates for the ICSE (Class X) examination will be given the following options:
1. To write the offline examination, along with the Class XII candidates
2. Not to write the offline examination.
“In view of the ICSE (Class X) candidates opting for the second option, CICSE will develop a fair and an unbiased criterion while preparing the results of such candidates.”
The decision taken by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to cancel the Class X board exams and postpone the Class XII exams has evoked mixed response from the parents, teachers and students.
Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had announced on Wednesday that the CBSE board exams for Class X have been cancelled while the exams for Class XII have been postponed in view of the exponential spike in the number of Covid-19 cases across the country. According to the minister, Class XII exams will be held at a later date after the CBSE reviews the situation on June 1.
While Class X students are concerned about the criteria to be announced for promotion to the next level, Class XII students are worried about their academic future after school.
Ritu Rinwa, the mother of a Class XII student at The Mother's International School located in Delhi's Sri Aurobindo Marg, said that the decision must be welcomed amid the sudden surge in Covid cases across the country, particularly in the national capital.
