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- CISCE cancels ICSE and ISC exams for UAE centres over safety issues.
- Thousands of Indian students in the UAE affected by the decision.
- Alternative assessment methods may be introduced for evaluation.
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has cancelled the Class 10 (ICSE) and Class 12 (ISC) board exams for all centres in the UAE due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. This decision, impacting thousands of Indian students, follows a review of the security situation in the region.
Earlier, the exams had been postponed and were scheduled to take place between March 2 and April 6, 2026. However, after consultations with authorities like the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai and the Consulate General of India, CISCE decided that conducting the exams this year was not feasible for safety reasons.
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The UAE, home to a large Indian expatriate community, has several CISCE-affiliated schools. This cancellation adds to the disruption, as the exams were already delayed in March due to regional instability. While CISCE has not yet outlined the exact process for student evaluation, experts suggest that alternative methods, like internal assessments or previous exam results, could be used to determine final grades.
This move ensures that students will not lose an academic year, allowing them to continue their education despite the circumstances.