The Council has been so constituted as to secure suitable representation of: Government of India, State Governments/Union Territories in which there are Schools affiliated to the Council, the Inter-State Board for Anglo-Indian Education, the Association of Indian Universities, the Association of Heads of Anglo-Indian Schools, the Indian Public Schools’ Conference, the Association of Schools for the ISC Examination and members co-opted by the Executive Committee of the Council.
01. EARLY BEGINNINGS
In 1952, an All India Certificate Examinations Conference was held under the Chairmanship of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Minister for Education. The main purpose of the Conference was to consider the replacement of the overseas Cambridge School Certificate Examination by an All India Examination. This set the agenda for the establishment of the Council.
In October 1956 at the meeting of the Inter-State Board for Anglo-Indian Education, a proposal was adopted for the setting up of an Indian Council to administer the University of Cambridge, Local Examinations Syndicate's Examination in India and, to advise the Syndicate on the best way to adapt its examination to the needs of the country. The inaugural meeting of the Council was held on 3rd November, 1958.
In December 1967, the Council was registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
In 1973, the Council was listed in the Delhi School Education Act 1973, as a body conducting "public" examinations.
02. THE COUNCIL'S MISSION
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations is committed to serving the nation's children, through high quality educational endeavours, empowering them to contribute towards a humane, just and pluralistic society, promoting introspective living, by creating exciting learning opportunities, with a commitment to excellence.
03. THE ETHOS OF THE COUNCIL
1. Trust and fair play.
2. Minimum monitoring.
3. Allowing schools to evolve own niche.
4. Catering to the needs of the children.
5. Giving freedom to experiment with new ideas and practices.
6. Diversity and plurality - the basic strength for evolution of ideas.
7. Schools to motivate pupils towards the cultivation of:
8. Excellence - The Indian and Global experience.
9. Values - Spiritual and cultural - to be the bed rock of the educational experience.
Schools to have an 'Indian Ethos', strong roots in the national psyche and be sensitive to national aspirations.
As a leader in the provision of world-wide educational endeavours, the Council's vast experience and wisdom is called upon in many forums such as the Council of Boards of School Education in India (COBSE), State Education Departments, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the Ministry for Human Resource Development and the Planning Commission, affirming the intrinsic integrity and credibility of the Council and the system it espouses.
04. EXAMINATIONS
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations conducts three examinations, namely, the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE –Class X); The Indian School Certificate (ISC - ClassXII) and the Certificate in Vocational Education (CVE - Year 12). The subject choices and syllabuses prescribed for these examinations are varied and aimed at nurturing the unique gifts of individual pupils
THE ICSE (CLASS X)
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education has been designed to provide an examination in a course of general education, in accordance with the recommendations of the New Education Policy 1986, through the medium of English. Private candidates are not permitted to appear for this examination.
[For more details see Regulations and Syllabuses booklet.]
THE ISC (CLASS XII)
The Indian School Certificate Examination is an examination, through the medium of English, designed in accordance with the recommendations of the New Education Policy 1986, after a two-year course of studies beyond the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (Year 10) examination or its equivalent examination.
[For more details see Regulations and Syllabuses booklet.]
THE C.V.E (YEAR 12)
The Certificate of Vocational Education Examination (CVE - 12) has been created as an examination, in accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) through the Joint Council of Vocational Education (JCVE) established under the National Policy of Education 1986. This examination can be taken by candidates after a two year course of studies beyond the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (Year 10) examination or its equivalent examination, through the medium of English.
[For more details see Regulations and Syllabuses booklet.]
The C.V.E. course is intended to prepare candidates for specific vocations. Private candidates are not permitted to appear for these examinations.
05. NATIONAL COMPETITIONS
The Council conducts, the Frank Anthony Memorial All-India Inter-School Debate and the Albert Barrow Memorial All-India Inter-School Creative Writing competitions, thereby underpinning the critical importance of creativity and the ability to articulate one's thoughts in writing and speech in school education.
06. AWARDS
(A) THE DEROZIO AWARDS
Instituted by: Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations
FOR EDUCATION AND HUMAN ENRICHMENT
For Principals / Teachers
Henry L.V. Derozio (1809 - 1830), arguably the first Indian poet, freedom fighter and social reformer, was fondly referred to as the "National Bard of Modern India." He taught English at Hindu College (later Presidency College), Calcutta, and set up a youth movement to promote nationalism and enlightened living. Through his writing he fired the imagination of a generation of 'Derozians', young people of conviction who were prepared to make any sacrifice for the cause of 'freedom'. 'The Harp of India', 'To India my Native Land' and 'Fakir of Jungheera' are among his best known writings.
The 'Derozio Awards' have been instituted to celebrate and commemorate the life of this great revolutionary, so that his life may inspire a new generation of people to emulate his life and work, in the service of the nation.
(B) NATIONAL AWARDS
SCHEME OF NATIONAL AWARDS TO TEACHERS FROM SCHOOLS AFFILIATED TO COUNCIL FOR THE INDIAN SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS - NEW DELHI
AWARDS FOR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS
Every year the Government of India gives public recognition to meritorious services of outstanding teachers through the scheme of National Awards. From the year 2000 the Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India has allotted five such awards to teachers of schools affiliated to Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi.
The Government of India has also allotted one "special" award for teachers promoting Integrated Inclusive Education in schools.
Each Award carries with it a Certificate of Merit, a cash payment of Rs.25000 and a silver medal.
Teachers/Principals of schools affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations and members of the Association of Heads of Anglo-Indian Schools, the Association of Schools for the ISC Examinations and the Indian Public Schools Conference are eligible for this award. Normally retired Teachers/Principals are not eligible for this Award but those teachers who have served for at least four months in the year to which the National Award relates, may be considered if they fulfill all other conditions. For the purpose of these Awards the age of superannuation shall be deemed to be sixty years.
Teachers with at least fifteen years regular teaching experience and Headmasters/Principals with twenty years of regular teaching experience who are also involved in active teaching shall be considered for these awards.
(C) ICT AWARD
The Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development implemented National Awards for teachers for "Using ICT for Innovations in Education". The Award proposes to felicitate those teachers who have enhanced student learning by effectively and innovatively integrating technology supported learning into the school curriculum and subject teaching, and thereby promoted inquiry-based cooperative-collaboration learning using ICT among their students. The Department for Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India has allotted one such award to teachers of school affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations.
07. TRAINING
The Council carries out training on a gamut of educational concerns, geared towards improving or affirming teaching practices in the classroom, new syllabi thrusts or managerial skills in education. Requests for training may be made to the Council's office.
08. SPECIAL MENTION
UCAS noting on the ISC Examination:
The National Admissions and Accreditation agency in the United Kingdom - UCAS (Universities and College Admission Services) has recognized the ISC at par with the Higher School qualification of the University of Scotland.
