Great expectations for ICSE and ISC students today

Updated on: Wednesday, May 18, 2011

For nearly 11,000 students across the state today is D-Day: At 03:00 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. “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 per cent. 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.

- With inputs from Ishani Chatterji

ONLINE ROUTE TO COLLEGE

Admission website up and running: After a week’s delay, the online admission site was up and running by 04:00 pm on Thursday. Students can log on to fyjc.org.in where they can practise filling in ‘dummy’ forms online. The actual forms will be uploaded only after SSC results are announced

Bypass the booklet: The Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Ltd (MKCL) has designed a visual presentation to help students understand the admission procedure.

No repeat of last year’s confusion: With the exception of students applying under the management, minority and other quotas, all students will have to apply online to get into the college of their choice. Last year, 4,400 students—many of them high scorers—had to reapply offline after the online admission process. To avoid a repeat of last year’s confusion, the education department has made it compulsory for every student to list no less than 35 colleges in the online form. The maximum number of colleges a student can list is 60.

PAST CONTROVERSIES

For three years in a row, the Maharashtra government came out with junior college admission policies favouring SSC students.

The Best-5 Policy (2010): In February, the Maharashtra government introduces the Best-5 policy, which gives students the freedom of calculating their final score based on the marks of five subjects. In May, it announces that the policy is meant only for state board students. The matter goes up to the Supreme Court, and the policy is extended to ICSE students as well. FYJC lectures start in September first week.

The 90:10 Saga (2009): In June, the state announces the 90:10 quota in favour of state board students applying for junior colleges in the city. The policy is challenged by parents of ICSE students in court. A month later in July, the Bombay HC strikes down the state government’s decision to reserve 90% seats for SSC students only. FYJC lectures start in the third week of July.

The Percentile Controversy (2008): In June 27, the state government issues a GR called “normalisation in 10th standard students’ marks”, which lays down the percentile system that is to be followed for FYJC admissions. The percentile in each college will be calculated on the basis of the top 10 scores at the board level. In July, ICSE student Francisco and his father Xavier Luis file a petition against this policy in the HC. In September, the high court rules against the government’s proposal. FYJC lectures start in the first week of August.

Great expectations for ICSE and ISC students today

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