Thiruvananthapuram: Aided schools in Kerala can apply for affiliation with the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) board, provided they meet the necessary quality criteria, said Chief Executive and Secretary of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), Dr Joseph Emmanuel.

Dr Joseph stated that while private schools have traditionally been the focus for affiliation, aided schools in Kerala can also qualify if they adhere to the syllabus policies.

He stressed that aided schools in West Bengal and Meghalaya have successfully obtained ICSE affiliation, and similar opportunities are open for Kerala. 

Speaking to Mathrubhumi, he claimed that there are no barriers to certification as long as the schools are willing to comply with the standards set by the board.

The announcement came during Dr. Emmanuel’s address as the chief guest at the Frank Anthony Memorial All-India Inter-School Debate Competition held at Christ Nagar Higher Secondary School in Thiruvananthapuram. He noted that comprehensive changes will be implemented in CISCE in alignment with the National Education Policy.

Govt. approval is necessary to switch

Existing and new schools seeking to switch to the ICSE syllabus can obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the state government. After this, the board will give affiliation if the schools are following all the quality criteria. Dr. Emmanuel suggested that the board would prioritise new schools for affiliation, as converting existing institutions can be a more complex process.