CISCE Introduces Entrepreneurship as New Subject for ISC 2028 Examinations
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has made significant curriculum changes for the upcoming academic sessions, with entrepreneurship emerging as a brand new subject offering at the ISC level for Classes XI and XII. This announcement came through an official circular released on Friday, marking a substantial shift in the educational framework for Indian schools affiliated with the council.
Major Subject Revisions and Renaming
In addition to introducing entrepreneurship, the council has officially renamed the traditional 'commerce' subject to 'business studies,' reflecting a more contemporary approach to commercial education. Students who will be appearing for the ISC 2028 examination now have the option to select entrepreneurship as one of their subjects, providing them with early exposure to startup concepts and business innovation.
The circular explicitly stated, "All stakeholders are made aware of the changes in the regulations that are in place from the examination year 2028 onwards." This timely notification was strategically released ahead of the commencement of board examinations to enable students to carefully review the updated regulations and syllabus before finalizing their subject choices.
Focus on Skill-Based and Practical Learning
CISCE CEO and secretary Joseph Emmanuel emphasized the council's commitment to skill-based learning during his recent visit to Kolkata for a principals' meeting. He highlighted the importance of developing a curriculum that connects classroom learning with real-life applications and prioritizes hands-on experience over traditional rote memorization.
This educational shift aligns perfectly with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for application-based assessment and practical knowledge acquisition. The council's focus on real-life applications represents a deliberate move away from conventional learning methods toward more experiential educational approaches.
School Principals Welcome the Changes
Educational leaders across affiliated schools have responded positively to these curriculum updates. Rodney Borneo, principal of St Augustine's Day School in Shyamnagar, commented, "The revision is very logical. It brings coherence to the subject, and the introduction of entrepreneurship ensures that we study subjects not only from a practical point of view but also for their practical implications."
Sujoy Biswas, principal of Rammohan Mission School, added, "It is a positive approach by the council so that students can get an idea of start-up businesses. The council already introduced subjects such as fashion designing, robotics, and artificial intelligence, and now students are studying law at the school level as well."
Comprehensive Subject Revisions and Language Guidelines
The circular also clarified important guidelines regarding language selections. Students can now opt for only two modern foreign languages from Group I and Group II, excluding Group III, to maintain a balanced subject combination. Specifically, apart from English, ICSE students can select a maximum of two foreign languages.
These changes are part of broader curriculum revisions affecting ten subjects at the ISC level and eleven subjects at the ICSE level for the 2028 examination year. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had previously introduced entrepreneurship in the 2024-25 academic session, indicating a nationwide trend toward entrepreneurial education at the school level.
The introduction of entrepreneurship as a formal subject represents a forward-thinking approach to education, preparing students with practical skills, innovative thinking, and business acumen that will serve them well in their future careers and entrepreneurial endeavors.
