The ICSE council will take a decision on the ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) board exams and “inform all concerned at the earliest,” Gerry Arathoon, the chief executive and secretary of the council told The Telegraph on Wednesday.

Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee said the government would take a decision “in the interests of the students at the appropriate time considering the prevalent Covid-19 situation”.

The state board exams (Madhyamik and Higher Secondary) are scheduled for June. “But nothing can be more urgent and important than the health of our children and those involved in the examination process. The government will certainly take a decision in the interests of the students at the appropriate time considering the prevalent Covid-19 situation,” Chatterjee said on Wednesday.

The ICSE and ISC (theory papers) are scheduled to start on May 4. “We will take a decision regarding the ICSE Class X and ISC Class XII board examinations and inform all concerned at the earliest...,” said Arathoon.

On Wednesday, the CBSE cancelled the Class X board exams and postponed the Class XII exams. The exams were to begin on May 4.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations put a message on its website on Wednesday that read: “Due to Covid situation, CISCE will take a decision regarding ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) Year 2021 Examinations and will inform all concerned at the earliest.”

The Telegraph had reported how the board was ready with all exam preparations and schools in the city had distributed admit cards and even the answer sheets had reached the schools.

The state government had allowed schools to reopen from February 12 for Classes IX to XII.

Heads of institutions affiliated to the state board have sought suspension of in-person classes because of the surge in Covid-19 cases across the country.

The school education department has not taken any decision on this yet.

“We are keeping a watch on the situation. Many schools are holding classes on digital platforms following a spike in cases. Any decision on shutting down the institutions again will be taken after consulting the chief minister's office,” an official of the school education department said.