CBSE Latest Updates for Class 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 on New Subjects, Academic Calendar, and Board Exams

CBSE & ICSE Latest Updates for Class 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 on New Subjects, Academic Calendar, and Board Exams

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CBSE and ICSE Latest Updates for Class 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 on New Subjects, Academic Calendar, and Board Exams:

Schools want summer vacations advanced, we’ll decide after lockdown: CBSE secretary

CBSE secretary Anurag Tripathi tells ThePrint in an exclusive interview that the board is in talks with states and schools on advancement of vacations.

New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is discussing advancing the summer break in schools affiliated to it, in view of the ongoing lockdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic, CBSE secretary Anurag Tripathi told ThePrint in an interview.

He, however, clarified that the board is in discussion with the states and can take a call on this only after the lockdown is lifted.

Tripathi said the board is also in talks with teachers, schools and students regarding the idea.

“We are in discussion with teachers and students that we should advance the summer vacation. Usually, summer vacations are from May to June,” he said. “Some schools have also requested that if we advance the vacations, the academic session won’t get hampered,” Tripathi added.

“We can only decide something once the lockdown is lifted and we assess the situation,” he said. “It is up to the individual states to take the final call. We will try to take a call in the best interest of students.”

The academic sessions begin in April and schools break for summer vacation in May and reopen in June. This year, due to the lockdown, schools have been suggesting that the summer vacation be advanced.

Apart from a disrupted academic session, schools have faced many other challenges like the postponement of some board exams. In order to address this, the board issued a circular last week saying that remaining exams for Classes 10 and 12 will only be held in 29 subjects. These include only important subjects such as Business Administration, Home Science, Geography and others for Class 12. There will be no more exams for Class 10, except in the riot-hit Northeast Delhi region.

Exams only in important subjects

The secretary said that CBSE decided to conduct exams only in selected subjects keeping in mind their importance for higher education.

“We have been taking calls keeping in mind the best interest of students. We decided to conduct board exams only in those subjects that are important and have a large number of students appearing for them,” Tripathi said.

“We wanted to keep in mind the academic future of children, hence we chose the subjects that will impact their future in terms of admission to colleges, nationally and internationally.”

The new dates for exams have not been decided so far, Tripathi said, clarifying that the dates will be announced at least 10 days in advance.

For students who study in CBSE-affiliated schools outside India, the board has decided to forego the board exams that are remaining.

“We do not know when the lockdown will be lifted in other countries, hence we have communicated to our foreign schools to assess students on the basis of the exams that they have written and not conduct anymore exams,” he said.

On the results for the board exams, Tripathi said the board will try to get the results out by June, if the lockdown is lifted on time and evaluation is possible.

“Because of the lockdown, not only did we have to postpone the exams but also delay the evaluation process,” Tripathi said. “If the lockdown is lifted, we will be able to start the process and hopefully try to deliver the results by the month of June.”

Board asks schools to promote students in Classes 9 & 11

The board has also recently asked all the schools affiliated to it to promote students from classes 1 to 8, without an exam and on the basis of internal assessment. It has now issued the same advisory for classes 9 and 11, Tripathi said.

“A lot of schools have already done their internal assessment and the ones that have not, we have asked them to promote students from classes 1 to 8,” he added.

“Recently, we also asked schools to promote students in classes 9 and 11. Both these classes have unit tests and a lot of other ways of internal assessment. It won’t be unfair to students, if they are judged on the basis of their performance throughout the year.”

While the board is still in discussion with schools on changing the academic calendar, many schools have already started the session through the online mode. Speaking about the challenges of teaching online, Tripathi said, “A lot of schools have started teaching online, the ones that do not have the facility, they are trying to connect through mail, WhatsApp and planned calendars.

“It is not a substitute for teachers and we are aware of that, but students and teachers are trying to do the best they can. Lockdown has given us a chance to get introduced to online content and I think we should make use of it.”

ICSE boards yet to be over but Class XI online lessons start

KOLKATA: Some of the papers for ICSE Class-X board exams are still left, but schools have already started online classes for Class XI. CBSE, which managed to complete its Class X board exams, has also instructed its affiliated instituites to start Class XI lessons.

“We believe learning process should not be hampered owing to the current lockdown. Students who will begin their Class-XI curriculum is being initiated into the syllabus. If they attend online classes, they can make up for the lost time. We do not have any unsuccessful candidate in ICSE. We do not see any need to keep the classes suspended,” said Modern High School director Devi Kar. Even Ram Mohan Mission High School, which any way starts Class XI classes much before the boards results are published, is gearing up for online teaching. “We consider the Class-IX annual reports and the scores of pre-selection and selection tests to determine who all can join Class XI coursework . No one is usually exempted from attending classes,” principal Sujoy Biswas said.

CBSE schools, where all its students have already completed their board exams, can start online lessons for Class XI without a worry. “We will offer provisional admission to students and start with the Class XI curriculum from May 2,” said Birla Bharati School principal Apala Dutta. “We do not want to lose on valuable time owing to this lockdown. Every year, we offer provisional admission to students before the boards results are published. Same is being done this year as well. We now have to determine the number of students qualifying for the new class.”

At Vivekananda Mission School, which is affiliated to CISCE, the list of students selected for Class XI has already been published.

“We are only waiting for the school to open for a few days to start the admission process while considering the provisional list of students which has been brought out looking at their performance in internal examinations,” said principal Sarmistha Banerjee.

“We have the study materials ready and those will soon be uploaded and shared through online portals. Some of the Class-X boards papers are yet to be completed but we would want the students to at least see what the Class XI curriculum would be like,” she said.

CBSE to Introduce Three New Subjects for Class 11 From 2020-21 Session

Design Thinking, Physical Activity Trainer and Artificial Intelligence as new subjects, Biswajit Saha, Director Training and Skill Education, CBSE said.

New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will introduce Design Thinking, Physical Activity Trainer and Artificial Intelligence as new subjects for class 11 from 2020-21 academic session, officials said on Tuesday.

To make the new generation more creative, innovative and physically fit, and to keep pace with the global developments and requirements at workplace, the board is introducing the three new subjects, said Biswajit Saha, Director Training and Skill Education, CBSE.

“While thinking is a skill that all humans possess, the 21st century’s requirement is of critical thinking and problem-solving. Design Thinking is a systematic process of thinking that opens up the horizons of creativity and enables even the most conditioned thinkers to bring about new and innovative solutions to the problems at hand,” he said.

According to Saha, the course on Physical Activity Trainer will not only help in developing skills of a trainer but also a life skill.

“Artificial Intelligence is also a simulation by machines of the unlimited thinking capacity of humans. Physical Activity is a must if the body and mind are to be kept healthy.

“With this view in mind, the course on Physical Activity Trainer has been prepared. It will not only help in developing the skill of a trainer, but will also become a life skill as it will imbibe the idea of keeping fit for life,” he added.

CBSE to offer skill courses as additional 6th subject for classes 6 to 11

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will offer skill courses as an additional sixth subject for classes 6 to 11 from 2020-21 academic session, officials said on Tuesday.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will offer skill courses as an additional sixth subject for classes 6 to 11 from 2020-21 academic session, officials said on Tuesday.

“At the secondary level, a skill subject may be offered as an additional subject along with the existing five compulsory subjects. The board has decided to offer students the flexibility of making a vocational choice of a short duration module of 12 hours at a stage in their early academic career, either at class 6, 7 or 8,” Biswajit Saha, CBSE’s Director Training and Skill Education, said.

“In this way, they will be able to spend a relevant time period pursuing this choice as per the convenience of school, while benefitting from access to courses that are broader based,” he said.

Saha said that this would give students the necessary orientation early on so that they are able to make a choice at a later stage to pursue skill courses at secondary and senior secondary level, or choose a higher vocational degree.

In essence this flexibility will keep multiple career possibilities open for each student, instead of the current situation of rigidity once the first choice is made, he added.

As per the existing CBSE policy, if any student fails in any one of the three elective subjects — Science, Mathematics and Social Science — then it will be replaced by the skill subject offered as the sixth subject and a result of class 10 will be computed based on the best five subjects. However, if a candidate desires to appear in the failed subject, he or she may appear along with the compartment examination.

“The draft New Education Policy 2019 has clearly stated that there should be ‘no hard separation’ between curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular or academic and vocational or physical education. The updating of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) in the near future will make it possible for the board to remove such separations,” Saha said.

“However, for the present, it is felt that mainstreaming all forms of learning and skills will integrates not just the hands-on skilling component but also the theoretical knowledge, attitudes and mindsets, and soft skills that are required for particular occupations, through a broad-based education that is necessary for students to be able to take on and thrive in a fast-changing world.

“This will contribute to the economic goals of the nation in multiple ways, developing the capacities and dispositions of individuals for economic independence, including employment and entrepreneurship,” he added.

The board is already offering 17 skill subjects at the secondary level and 37 skill subjects at the senior secondary level to upgrade the skills and proficiency of young generation and also to provide them awareness to explore various career options.

More than eight lakh students are presently studying skill subjects at the secondary and the senior secondary level in 8,543 CBSE schools.

“At the middle level (classes 6 to 8), one skill module of 12 hours duration could be offered as an option to students for single academic session as per the convenience of schools. Students are free to opt skill module either at classes 6, 7 or 8.

“Therefore, schools are requested to consider choosing any one or more skill courses for the students of classes 6 to 8 start offering the same from the academic session 2020-21 onwards. The board will provide necessary support and guidance towards training and capacity building of teachers and other aspects for successful implementation of all skill subjects from time to time,” Saha said.

CBSE offers nine subjects for Class 9th and 10th students

NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has given students of Class 9th and 10th to study nine subjects. Apart from the compulsory five subjects (English, Hindi, Maths, Social Science and Science) candidates can now opt for addition four more subjects for study in Class 9th and 10th. The sixth subject will be skill subject, seventh will be third language, 8th and 9th can be chosen from – Art Education, Health and Physical Education and Work Experience. These two subjects 8th and 9th will be evaluated internally at school level.

All subjects have been clubbed in groups and a candidate needs to choose either of the group as per his/her choice. Mainly these groups are – main subjects, optional subjects and language subjects. Now, candidates can choose their subjects as per the group only.

“It was observed that students face difficulties in choosing subjects and they were forced to take the help of seniors/parents or teachers. As the subjects have been divided in groups, it would help students to choose subjects as per their choice,” an official had said.

Class IX and X is an integrated course
Students need to take only those subjects in class IX which they intend to continue in Class-X .The subjects can be selected as per scheme studies in class IX. They need to continue the same subjects in class X also. Subjects can be offered as under:

Type Subjects Group
Compulsory Subject 1 Language I (Hindi Course A or Hindi Course
B or English Language & Literature)		 Group-L
Subject 2 Language II (Any one from the Group of

Languages (Group-L) other than Language
chosen at Subject 1

 Group L
Subject 3 Mathematics (Standard or Basic
Mathematics)		 Group A1
Subject 4 Science Group A1
Subject 5 Social Science Group A1
Optional Subject 6 Skill subject* from the group of
Skill subjects		 Group-S
Subject 7 Language III /Any Academic subject
other than opted above		 GroupL/
Group-A2
Co-Scholastic
Areas		 Subject 8
and Subject 9		 Art Education Health & Physical Education
Work Experience*

If a student fails in any one of the three compulsory academic subjects (i.e. Science, Mathematics and Social Science) and passes in the Skill subject (offered as sixth optional subject), then that academic subject will be replaced by the Skill subject and the result of Class X Board examination will be computed accordingly.

If a student fails in any language subject, out of first five subjects, the same will be replaced by the language taken as sixth subject ( in case of no skills subjects offered ) or as seventh subject (optional), provided he or she has passed this language subject and after replacement either Hindi or English remains as a passed language in the first five subjects.

NCERT will develop alternative academic calendar for up to CBSE Class XII students

A letter from Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to school principals confirms that a new academic calendar is being developed for students from Class I to Class XII by National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

According to Anita Karwal, CBSE’s Chairperson, the new calendar will be based on newer ways of learning, the details of which will follow in another communique from the CBSE to the heads of schools. This reinvention aims to make the education more adaptable to situations like the one the country and the world is going through right now.

“This calendar also suggests ways and means to use technology to aid and facilitate this process of learning,” Anita told The Indian Express.

School heads have been asked to utilise the resources – digital and e-learning platforms – provided by the Ministry of Human Resources Development.

“Share your innovative timetables, content, assignments, question banks, etc. with us, so that your efforts do not remain limited to your school,” she said, asking the principals to share their work on the ASAR (Affiliated Schools Activities Report) app of CBSE, as per NDTV.

The new curriculum will be released soon and will entail group video calls, conference calls, voice calls, and both internet-based and non-internet based technological trends of e-learning.

“We would like to caution at this stage that while technology will be required to be used by the child for learning, at the same time, sensitise parents about the misuse/ misinterpretation of information in certain sites that can induce possible distress in children because of exposure to age-inappropriate content,” the CBSE chairman added.

In addition to sharing this, she also encouraged parents to involve their children in the housework. With families living together in the same house, it becomes important to imbibe bonding, patience and empathetic value in children. By allowing them to undertake household chores such as working in the kitchen, Anita believes that the process in itself will facilitate learning in the form of strengthening children’s cognitive, affective, and psychomotor development.

ICSE and CBSE schools start new academic year with online classes

With uncertainty looming over when schools would resume operations, several private schools in the city, especially the ones belonging to the ICSE and CBSE boards, have started the new academic year online.

With uncertainty looming over when schools would resume operations, several private schools in the city, especially the ones belonging to the ICSE and CBSE boards, have started the new academic year online.

Various schools in the city including Chattrabhuj Narsee Memorial School, Podar International School and Billabong International school began their regular classes for students from this week. “We have started the online classes for Classes 10 and 12. It is a good experience to use a wide array of resources available on the internet for online teaching. It is challenging for schools but also a very good learning experience,” said Kavita Sanghvi, principal, Chatrabhuj Narsee Memorial School in Vile Parle. Most schools affiliated to the CBSE and the ICSE boards begin their new academic year in April.

EuroSchool & Billabong High have started live classes through video conferencing and recorded sessions for the new academic year are also being delivered. The learning is further supplemented with digital textbooks, Q&A sessions and home assignments. “We were very focused on first ensuring the safety & well- being of our students and once having ensured that we moved our focus on ensuring continued education during the disruption caused due to the pandemic,” said Prajodh Rajan, Co-founder and Group CEO, EuroKids Group which has schools across the city.

At Podar group of schools, parents have been given a ‘virtual schooling plan’ wherein online classes would be conducted for grades 3 to 10. Depending on their grade, students have to sit for 3-4 sessions a day. The schools will also roll out virtual learning sessions for students of Class 1 and 2 in the coming days.

Experts however warned against complete replacement of classroom teaching with online instruction. Francis Joseph, from the SLN global network said , “Online academic learning cannot replace face to face teaching. Besides that, our teachers need training to be online tutors. With elite schools turning to online only instruction, disparity between privileged schools and affordable schools are bound to widen due to varying contexts in the student home environment.”

Teachers said that the experience has taught them to use the technology which they otherwise would not have tried. “The only issue with the younger kids is that it is more challenging to keep them engaged virtually and avoid distractions,” said the teacher at a suburban school which has recently moved some of its classes online.

Delhi: Give students of classes IX, XI a second chance, says CBSE

NEW DELHI: With the Union human resource development ministry announcing that the students of classes IX and XI should also be promoted, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has been receiving queries from the students kept in the same class.

The board has asked the principals to provide remedial interventions and give these students another chance to appear for online/offline tests.

CBSE has also decided to give 10 days’ notice before starting the board examinations postponed due to the 21-day lockdown.

In a note sent to the principals, the board has said the students should be promoted on the basis of school-based assessments, including project work, periodic tests and term exams. In case a student fails to clear this, he should get another opportunity, CBSE has said.

For Delhi government school students in these two classes, the exams were yet to be completed. Education minister Manish Sisodia has already announced they would be promoted on the basis of the results of previous exams and internal assessment.

Many students are also confused about the board exams. On April 4, CBSE announced that it would conduct examinations only for the remaining main subjects. While CBSE has said it’s difficult to release a revised schedule at this point, it will take a decision only after consulting the higher education authorities. The board will also keep in mind all aspects related to entrance exams and admission dates, it has assured students.

The final exams have also been cancelled in 250 schools affiliated to CBSE abroad. The board will devise an objective criteria to asses students in these schools.

“The schools have been closed for a long period in west Asian countries till August 3. The schools in Iran, Japan, Nigeria etc are also closed,” the board has said, adding that conducting exams requires time to deliver papers, transport and evaluate them and process results. “If the exams are conducted after August 3, college admissions of all these students will be at stake,” it has said.

First riots, then COVID-19: Board exams ‘test of patience’ for class 10, 12 CBSE students in N-E Delhi

NEW DELHI: With all lessons revised and new stationary bought, 14-year-old Ravi Kumar was ready to spend a relaxed evening before his class 10 board exam the next day when the news of communal violence in northeast Delhi broke, ultimately leading to postponement of the exam by CBSE in affected areas.

But, for the students in northeast Delhi, the wait for the exams has become an “test of patience” with it being postponed again, this time due to the coronavirus outbreak, and no clarity emerging yet on when the exams will be held.

Rani Kumari says that while trying to concentrate on studies amid the fear of knock on doors during the communal violence over the amended citizenship law that brought northeast Delhi to a standstill, she was confident that “this too shall pass”.

“It has become an endless wait and now I don’t feel like studying too. Earlier I thought that this too shall pass. How much can one study the same thing over and over again? May be I will begin revision when the date sheet is announced,” said the class 12 student from Maujpur who wants to join nursing school.

Kumar, a resident of Chandbagh, told PTI, “Right from childhood, we are taught that board exams are too crucial and have to be focussed at least two years in advance. It all seems immaterial now, the entire enthusiasm is gone. Bigger than board exams now is this exam of patience.”

Gagandeep Singh, who lives in Gokalpuri area, said, “I think I will remember how disturbed I was during my class 10 exams all my life. The stress of exams and scoring well seems immaterial now, when we are facing riots and global pandemic.”

In February, the northeast part of the national capital was rocked by violence in which 53 people were killed and over 200 injured.

The areas worst affected in the violence included Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chand Bagh, Khajuri Khas and Bhajanpura.

In view of the violence, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had postponed exams at over 80 centres in northeast Delhi area till February 29.

The exams were, however, conducted as per original schedule from March 2 onwards as board officials opined that any further delay in conducting exams will affect the students’ prospects in undergraduate admissions.

The board had announced a fresh schedule, according to which class 12 exams in the area were supposed to begin on March 31 and conclude on April 14, while exams for class 10 were scheduled from March 21 to March 30.

However, the exams had to be again postponed in view of the coronavirus outbreak its resultant 21-day nationwide lockdown.

According to board officials, students will be given a 10-day notice before exams are conducted when the lockdown is lifted.

When are ICSE and CBSE Exams Likely to be Held? Will the Lockdown be Lifted on 15 April?

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