Reduction of pass marks for ISCE, ISC upsets academicians

Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha recently informed the Lok Sabha that the CISCE has conveyed the ministry that it has reduced the pass mark for Class 10 (ISCE) from 35% to 33% and for Class 12 (ISC) from 40% to 35%. 

Academicians in the state feel that this might affect the ability of student in clearing entrance examinations of premier institutions and professional courses like IIT-JEE and NEET. They pointed out that it would also make it difficult for students in securing admission in engineering colleges. 

As per the latest notification issued by the CISCE, the revision in pass marks for ICSE and ISC examinations will be effective from the examination year 2018 onwards. 

“Like CBSE, the CISCE also reduced pass marks for ISCE and ISC. The students will take the exams lightly which will cost them in competitive exams,” says Usha Hemagiri, Principal, Vels Vidyashram School in Mylapore. She said the move by CISE to reduce pass marks will also confuse many students. 

Likewise, S Padmanaban, a ICSE school teacher in Tambaram, said that even the earlier minimum pass mark of 35 was less and therefore, further reducing it would only impact the students. 

He said that reducing pass marks might make students happy initially, but it would affect them in the subsequent stages. Padmanaban said the government should reconsider the decision on reducing the pass percentage for the ISCE, ISC and the CBSE. 

CISE sources here said that this year, a total of 1.84 lakh students would appear for the Class 10 or ISCE examination, whereas about 81,000 students have registered to appear for the Class 12 or ISC examination.