CISCE up for revamp to centralise education

Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) is revamping its syllabus and training methods, including framing question papers on CBSE pattern, in a bid to cater to the needs of students who face competitive exams or opt for higher education.
"CISCE board, with an objective to centralise education, has decided to frame Class XII question papers on the lines of CBSE pattern from 2018," a statement released here said.
It also said that CISCE announced revamping of syllabus at its 58th Annual General Meeting yesterday.
In 2015, 1.5 lakh Class X students (ICSE) and 71,000 Class XII students (ISC) appeared in examination across India and this change will impact thousands of students who study in over 2082 CISCE.

"The Council has recently reviewed its prescribed syllabi at the ISC (Classes XI and XII) and ICSE (Classes IX and X) levels.
"A further modification has been introduced for the ISC Year 2018 Examination for the above subjects by re-organising the units in classes XI and XII so that the class-wise coverage of units in the ISC syllabus is in alignment with the CBSE syllabus," the statement said.

Specimen question papers for the ISC Year 2018 examination, in the subjects Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics have been prepared as per the pattern followed by CBSE.
At the ICSE level, syllabi for History & Civics, Geography, Mathematics and Physics have been reviewed for the year 2018 examination, the statement said.

Gerry Arathoon, chief executive and secretary of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, said the new pattern-- possibly with an eye on competitive exams conducted by the CBSE -- will be introduced from the 2018 ISC exam, Arathoon said.
In keeping with the requirements of many Universities for higher education after Class XII, the break-up of marks of the Theory and Practical components at the ISC level, for the subjects-- Computer Science, Fashion Designing, Physical Education, Indian Music (Hindustani), Indian Music (Carnatic) and Western Music-- has also been revised.
The existing mark breakup of 50 per cent theory and 50 per cent for practicals has now been changed to 70 per cent theory and 30 per cent practicals, in order that these subjects be considered as elective subjects, the statement said.

This change will be effective from the ISC Year 2016 examination onwards, it added.
The Council has already been following the Common Core Curriculum for mathematics, science and commerce at the ISC level, the statement said. The curriculum had been prescribed by the Council of Boards of School Education in India (COBSE), an apex body that has all school boards as its members.