Dubai: An estimated 2,000 Indian school students in the UAE have started appearing for the CBSE exams, which started with the English paper for Class 12 on Thursday.
This year, a total of around 1.98 million students in India and other countries are appearing for the standardised CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) exams for Class 12 and 10.
Class 12 exams will last till April 29, with break days in between. Meanwhile, Class 10 exams will conclude on April 10, also with breaks in between. Results of both examinations are expected in mid-May.
This is the last academic year in which students could have opted for a school-based Scheme-1 Class 10 exam instead of the board-based Scheme-2 exam. From next school year (2017-18), students in CBSE-affiliated schools will have to take the board-based Class 10 exam.
Meanwhile, the mandatory school-leaving Class 12 board exam will continue as usual. Results from this exam weigh heavily on students’ university admission and study prospects.
In the UAE, school principals Gulf News spoke with said the exams were off to a smooth start, with Thursday’s paper widely reported as being easy. However, the CBSE exam season is generally stressful for students, who have access to exam stress counselling by trained professionals.
15 exam centres
In the UAE, there are a total of 15 examination centres approved by the CBSE — nine in Dubai and two each in Ajman, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.
The Indian High School (IHS) in Dubai is an exam centre for 647 Class 12 students from three schools and 856 Class 10 students. It is also the collection centre for all nine centres.
Dr Ashok Kumar, CEO of IHS, said: “The grade 12 and 10 board exams are much anticipated in Indian homes, from the time the child sets foot into grade 10. Our parents are very focused on carving out ambitious careers for their children and IHS staff become their partners in this endeavour. It is the top priority of this school to support the optimum performance of our students as well as those who visit this school as an exam centre.”
He added: “I wish the very best of luck to all UAE students of grade 10 and 12 and they can rest assured that even though the exams have had a delayed start this year, the results will be declared on time so that college admissions are not impacted.”
In the GEMS Education school group, the biggest in the UAE, 2,750 Class 10 students and 1,491 Class 12 students are sitting the exams this year.
Good luck
Sir Christopher Stone, chief education officer at GEMS Education, said: “We know that examination time can be stressful, but I am confident that all the hard work of our students will translate into another year of great examination results. I continue to be in awe of how GEMS schools combine passionate educators with committed students to achieve the highest standards in education. I would like to wish each of our students good luck!”
Neeraj Bhargava, principal at the Abu Dhabi Indian School, said that more than 720 students would be taking the CBSE exams this academic year. “We have 280 students attending the Grade 12 exams, and about 440 students in Grade 10. As always, we wish them well, and trust that they will do their sincerest best in these board exams,” Bhargava told Gulf News.
The school is also an examination centre for about 1,100 students from other schools.
Easy paper
The Model School Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, has 84 students taking the grade 10 exams, and 21 students in grade 12. “I know our students are thoroughly prepared for these exams. Now, they just have to do their best,” said V.V. Abdul Kader, the school’s principal.
Asked about what tip he would offer the students, Abdul Kader said they should get plenty of rest and eat homemade food to stay healthy during the examination period.
In Ras Al Khaimah, students at the Scholars Indian School are “well prepared” for the exams, said M. Abu Bakr, the school principal, who is also a CBSE counsellor in the UAE. “The feedback for Thursday’s English paper was that it was easy,” he said, wishing well to all students.
At Scholars Indian School, 41 students are taking the Class 12 exams, while 51 are taking the Class 10 exams.
