Several ICSE and ISC schools will start the syllabus for semester 2 even before the semester 1 exam finishes so that the course is completed on time, teachers across schools said on Thursday.
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) postponed the ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) that were scheduled from November 15 and said all “stakeholders will be informed of the revised schedule in due course of time”.
Several schools had finished the syllabus for the semester 1 exam and were preparing students in the MCQ (multi-choice question) pattern tests. The ICSE was to end on December 6 and ISC on December 16.
But now since the schools do not know when the exams will be held, teachers will have to continue teaching else it might be difficult to finish the syllabus, some of them said.
“Since exams have been postponed we will continue with classes as usual and start the semester 2 syllabus,” said Aruna Gomes, the principal of Loreto House.
Schools have been closed for the Durga Puja break and most of them will reopen next week. “We will continue revising for semester 1 and also teach the portion of the semester 2,” said Delhi Public School New Town principal Sonali Sen.
Several schools said they would not only have to complete the syllabus but also do some revision before the pre boards scheduled in January-end or February. “We will start with the syllabus next week once the school reopens because we will have to complete the entire syllabus before the pre boards,” said Julien Day School, Kalyani, principal Terence John.
The council had also asked schools to complete the practical exams in batches by February. “Besides completing the syllabus we will also have to conduct some practical classes before the exams,” said John.
He also said there are subjects or portions in some that require more time because of the content.
The students have to be prepared for long answer questions. “Students also need practice for writing long answers in some subjects and for that we need to start,” said Seema Sapru, the principal of The Heritage School.
Heads of schools said it is not possible for them to conduct classes during the exams because the students would have to focus on the papers.
