To hold or not to hold: The ICSE exams 2021

As leaders, one of the most important traits that you need to have is to take decisions. If you don’t have the confidence to make decisions and always look for advice from others then you are not a leader. Your decision might be wrong sometimes but when you make the decision, communicate that to the rest of the team and inspire them to follow the decision. This is part of any great leadership trait. 

People in leadership positions who try to get consensus for any decision will never make any great decisions. Because all human beings are different and it’s very difficult to manage a consensus on everything. That’s why collective decision-making fails many times. Yes, sometimes your decision can be wrong and as a leader, you should be humble enough to accept it and move on rather than looking for excuses on why the decision went wrong. In collective decision taking this happens quite regularly because then people just blame each other – nothing is learned and when nothing is learned the entire exercise fails.

Recently CBSE after consultation with the PM decided to cancel the class 10 board exams in India. As I write this article, India registered more than 2,50,000 new Covid cases! The situation is turning quite grave and hence it was quite sensible to cancel the board exams so that the students can start preparing for class XI/XII. Once CBSE declared this decision it was a matter of time before other boards follow suit. ICSE board in the meantime declared that they will decide on their course of action shortly. After an agonising wait of over 48 hours, the ICSE council released a press note that the exams are being postponed and they will meet again in the first week of June to decide if and when the exams will be held. Now comes the interesting part. The note declares that the class X students will have the option to sit for the exams or not sit for the exams. For students who decide to not sit for the exams, their results would be declared based on an unbiased criterion (probably based on the performance of the student through the year – class tests/pre-boards/projects).

Leaving the decision on the students looks great on paper but actually, it just shows that the council doesn’t know to make decisions! First of all 15/16-year-old kids can’t decide for themselves. Secondly, their parents will be under pressure too. The board is allowing FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) to bias student’s decisions! When a student sees that his or her neighbor is not giving the exam – then their decision could be based on that. Similarly if in a group of friends few decide to sit for the exams then the other lot might also think that it’s better to give the exams. In both cases, it’s the FOMO psychology that is decisive. This is wrong! 

Let’s come to the other aspects.

Students who are in the CBSE board will start their class XI studies and classes by next week. What do the ICSE students do? They study for class XI or keep preparing for class X board exams? What happens if in the first week of June the board decides to cancel the exams? Will it not be a waste of time for the students?

What happens to the students who were planning to change boards from ICSE to CBSE? On one hand, they have to attend class XI and on the other hand, they have to prepare for class X boards! How is this a fair decision?

The biggest question why does it take 48 hours to take such a decision of postponement?

I think the ICSE board tried to show smartness by telling that we are very democratic by giving the option to the students but in actual they have done more harm to the students. Already these kids have lost important months due to covid. Now by not starting the classes, they will suffer further in the Class XII exams in two years’ time.

My advise:

I will advise students to not opt for exams! For students who feel that they might not have done well in pre-boards, remember marks do not define you. 10 years down the line people will know why your class X results were not good because this pandemic is an event that will be remembered for decades. So focus on the future. Do not waste a single minute on your class X books. Get your class XI books and start studying. You have another 20 months to go for your class XII board exams. Prepare with that goal in mind and I am sure you will succeed.

Do not think that it is going to harm your career. It won’t if you focus on doing well in class XII. Do not waste time because time is in your control. Start preparing for class XII boards because for class XII you won’t have the option of not sitting for exams. Promise to yourself that you will do well in 2023 and I am sure God will be kind enough to help you reach your goals.

P.S. My son is in class X and was supposed to give his ICSE exams. I have decided to not send him for exams and have already got him his class XI study materials which he will start from next week!

I was about to post this article when my son informed me that the board has canceled the ICSE exams for 2021. Better late than never – I would say.

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