NEW DELHI: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), responsible for conducting ICSE and ISC board exams, is preparing for significant reforms, including the introduction of robotics and artificial intelligence as subjects for Classes XI and XII starting in the 2025-26 academic year.
At the elementary level, these subjects will be integrated into the computer science curriculum, encompassing AI and coding in a cohesive manner.
Another important development will be the introduction of a holistic progress card, designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of students’ learning outcomes. The upcoming changes will also see an increase in competency-based questions in Board exams, starting at 25% in 2025 and rising to 50% by 2027. Additionally, the curriculum will be revised in line with NCERT’s National Curriculum Framework.
These reforms aim to align CISCE’s academic and administrative practices with the National Education Policy 2020, affecting over 3 million school students nationwide. One key initiative will be the introduction of three-stage non-retaining digital assessments for Classes III, V, and VIII, beginning in the 2025-26 session. These assessments are envisioned as diagnostic tools for identifying gifted students and addressing learning gaps.
Joseph Emmanuel, CEO and Secretary of CISCE, stated, “This integrated approach, combining humanities, arts, and STEM subjects, has demonstrated positive outcomes, including enhanced creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and higher-order thinking skills.”
A major transformation will occur in assessment methods, with the shift toward competency-based education starting in 2025. In Board exams, 25% of questions will be competency-based in 2025, increasing to 40% in 2026 and reaching 50% by 2027. This change aims to focus on core competencies rather than rote memorization, making Board exams for Classes X and XII more accessible.
Furthermore, CISCE plans to implement a school improvement initiative next year. Emmanuel added, “The overarching goal is for high-performing schools to collaborate voluntarily with state governments to enhance the quality of government schools.”
