ICSE Board not to make examination optional

This emphatic assertion at the ongoing 88th Annual Anglo Indian Conference here, comes in the wake of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) making their board exams optional.

Disapproving the government move in making the exam optional, parents, students and teachers of ICSE schools believe that a board exam on completion of high school is important for students’ career. As Sherlie Johnson, a parent put it, “The certificate of board examination is the basic document that a student should possess to begin a career.

Scrapping board examinations is only going to make children casual about their studies and career. It definitely does not decrease the stress levels but makes them directionless.”

Rijoe Mathews, a tenth standard student believes that board examinations brings the best out of students in terms of academics. “Board examination is the first step in students’ lives to work hard to score the best percentage. It is a platform which prepares students for college education. By preparing for board examinations, students will have a prior experience for the other international and national examinations which will have to be faced in higher education.”

The CISCE has also announced the inclusion of a compulsory new subject called as English Speaking and Listening Skill in ICSE syllabus that is aimed at making students communicate better. Margaret Eastwood, Convener, ICSE examinations, said that in times of emails and SMS, speaking and listening is crucial.

“Children are glued to computers and mobile phones, and this has decreased the intra- and inter-communication skills among them. With children looking at careers globally, speaking and listening skills have to be honed at school level itself,” Eastwood said. Other changes announced by CISCE Board include regularisation of admissions for ICSE and ISC examinations to be in effect from 2011, and centralised marking scheme.