For nearly 11,000 students across the state today is D-Day : At 3 pm, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations will declare ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) board exam results online. And for the first time in three years, there is no confusion over admission norms.
For the second consecutive year, ICSE students will be able to avail of the Best-5 policy, where percentages are calculated based on marks scored in English and four subjects from Group I and II. An ICSE student said only half in jest: "I am contemplating retaining the services of my uncle who is a lawyer just in case the government springs something on us at the last minute, which has been the case for three years." Last year, the Maharashtra government had tried to introduce the Best-5 policy only for state board students. The matter went right up to the apex court before it was extended to students from all boards. Early this month, the Supreme Court had adjourned the case till after the vacations. In 2009, ICSE students had to fight the government's 90:10 policy, and in the previous year it was the percentile system, which favoured SSC students (See Past Controversies ). "The fight against the government over the Best-5 policy went on for almost two months, delaying not just admissions but also FYJC classes by nearly three months," said a parent who had petitioned the Bombay High Court against the policy in 2010.
Expectations are high. Last year, the ICSE topper scored a high 98.80%. In fact, for the past three years, the all-India ICSE topper has been a Mumbaikar and students are praying their winning streak will continue this year, too.
Some ICSE school principals are not happy with the Best-5 policy because they feel students are only concentrating on a few subjects. "The ICSE board takes all its subjects seriously but thanks to this new policy, students who took the exam this year studied only selected subjects," said the principal of a well-known ICSE school.
For the second consecutive year, ICSE students will be able to avail of the Best-5 policy, where percentages are calculated based on marks scored in English and four subjects from Group I and II. An ICSE student said only half in jest: "I am contemplating retaining the services of my uncle who is a lawyer just in case the government springs something on us at the last minute, which has been the case for three years." Last year, the Maharashtra government had tried to introduce the Best-5 policy only for state board students. The matter went right up to the apex court before it was extended to students from all boards. Early this month, the Supreme Court had adjourned the case till after the vacations. In 2009, ICSE students had to fight the government's 90:10 policy, and in the previous year it was the percentile system, which favoured SSC students (See Past Controversies ). "The fight against the government over the Best-5 policy went on for almost two months, delaying not just admissions but also FYJC classes by nearly three months," said a parent who had petitioned the Bombay High Court against the policy in 2010.
Expectations are high. Last year, the ICSE topper scored a high 98.80%. In fact, for the past three years, the all-India ICSE topper has been a Mumbaikar and students are praying their winning streak will continue this year, too.
Some ICSE school principals are not happy with the Best-5 policy because they feel students are only concentrating on a few subjects. "The ICSE board takes all its subjects seriously but thanks to this new policy, students who took the exam this year studied only selected subjects," said the principal of a well-known ICSE school.
