ICSE 10th Board Exam 2020 Date: CISCE to conduct Class 10 pending papers in Maharashtra in July

The Maharashtra government requested the ICSE board to either postpone its exams or rely on internal assessment for declaration of ICSE 10^th Results 2020. The government suggested ICSE declare 10^th board results without exams by assessing students’ performance internally.

Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, CICSE Board on June 12 told the Bombay High Court that it would be holding its ICSE 10th exams in July taking all safety precautions against the COVID-19 spread. The Maharashtra government, on the other hand, said that holding exams now was not feasible in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

Talking about the risks involved in conducting the ICSE 10^th exams amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and constantly increasing positive COVID-19 cases, Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni told the court that the COVID-19 situation in the state is serious and hence it would not be feasible to hold an examination for pending ICSE Class 10 board papers.

The central board in its affidavit, however, argued that it does not require the state government's permission to conduct the Class 10 board examinations.

The petition plea filed by Arvind Tiwari challenging the ICSE's decision to hold pending Class 10 examinations from July 2 to July 12 across Maharashtra was heard by a division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice S S Shinde. According to the ICSE 10^th date sheet 2020, the exams were initially scheduled between February 27 and March 30. However, ICSE 10^th exams from March 19 onwards were cancelled due to the COVID-19 scare. This postponement of the class 10 board exam delayed the process as well as the declaration of the ICSE Class 10 results 2020.

Tiwari in his petition claimed that since the number of COVID-19 cases is still on the rise it would be appropriate to declare ICSE 10^th results 2020 based on gradation and assessment of the past performance of students in internal exams.

A total of 226 schools in Maharashtra are affiliated to ICSE. 23,347 students were scheduled to appear for the ICSE 10th standard examinations.

The board in its affidavit said that after the relaxation of lockdown, it decided to hold the pending examinations. However, on June 3, Maharashtra school education department sent them a letter stating that it would not be possible for the state government to grant permission for the Class 10 ICSE exams.

The state government requested the ICSE board to either postpone its exams or rely on internal assessment for declaration of ICSE 10^th Results 2020. The government suggested ICSE declare 10^th board results without exams by assessing students’ performance internally.

The ICSE, however, told the court that it will hold the ICSE 10^th examinations with all safety measures and precautionary against the novel coronavirus.

If a student is unable to attend the ICSE 10^th Exam because he or she is suffering from COVID-19 or a family member is suffering from it, or if he or she is residing in a containment zone, such student can appear for ICSE 10th re-examination in September 2020, the board said.

The matter is not posted by the court for further hearing next week.

Read More:

• Cancelling pending CBSE, CISCE board exams not possible; know why
• Maharashtra asks CBSE, CISCE to conduct 10th, 12th exams later or mark students on internals
• CBSE 10th Results 2020 Date, passing marks, grading system and other updates on 10th board results