Sunday 15 / March / 2026
Muscat: With the cancellation of Class 10 and Class 12 CBSE board examinations for students across the Gulf region, many students and parents in Oman are uncertain about how final marks will be awarded.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the cancellation of Class 12 board examinations for students studying in several Middle Eastern countries due to ongoing regional disruptions.
In a circular dated March 15, 2026, the board informed schools in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that all Class XII examinations scheduled between March 16 and April 10, 2026, stand cancelled for students in these countries.
The decision follows several earlier circulars issued on March 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, during which some examinations had already been postponed while authorities reviewed whether the exams could be safely conducted in the affected regions.
According to the board, all previously postponed examinations in these countries will also be considered cancelled.
CBSE stated that the method for declaring results for Class XII students in these regions will be announced separately at a later date.
The circular was issued by Sanyam Bhardwaj, Controller of Examinations at CBSE, and was sent to Indian diplomatic missions and CBSE regional offices in the Gulf to ensure schools and students are informed.
The move impacts more than 2,000 students in Oman appearing for Class 12 examinations and around 3,000 students preparing for Class 10 examinations, which had also been cancelled earlier.
Schools and students are now awaiting further clarification from the board on how final results will be calculated without the cancelled examinations.
Teachers expect CBSE to adopt assessment models similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic, relying on internal evaluations and previous academic performance.
“For example, for Class 12 students, CBSE could allot marks according to student performance in Classes 10, 11 and 12,” a teacher said.
Educators say the focus now is on ensuring fairness while also supporting students who have spent months preparing for the exams.
Education leaders say there is already a clear precedent for handling such situations. “During Covid, CBSE cancelled scheduled board exams in 2020 and again in 2021 and moved to a special evaluation scheme that drew on internal assessments, practicals, and the best-of-past-performance formula to declare results,” an educator explained.
However, the current situation differs from the global disruption seen during the pandemic. “This disruption is limited to Gulf countries and impacts a smaller number of students. So it remains to be seen what action CBSE takes,” he added.
School authorities said they are preparing for multiple possibilities while waiting for further instructions from the board.
Many educators believe that moderated internal marks and school-based assessments could form the basis for evaluating Grade 10 students. “In such cases, schools may be asked to submit marks based on data from previous exams,” a school official said.
For students, the uncertainty has brought mixed emotions. While some expressed relief that the exams were cancelled due to the situation in the region, others said they were worried about how their results would be calculated.
“I had been preparing for months and was ready to give my exams. When the cancellation was announced, it was a relief in one way but also confusing because we don’t know how marks will be calculated,” said a Class 12 student in Muscat.
Another student said many classmates were concerned about university admissions. “Our main worry now is how universities will view the final results if they are based on internal assessments instead of board exams.”
Parents have also voiced concern over the uncertainty surrounding the evaluation process.
“As parents we understand the safety concerns, but we hope the board will adopt a fair system that reflects the students’ hard work,” said a parent whose daughter was preparing for the Class 12 exams.
Another parent said students had been under significant stress over the past few weeks. “Many children were preparing intensively for these exams. The cancellation has left them anxious about their academic future.”
Meanwhile, schools are also focusing on providing emotional support to students during this uncertain period.
The Indian School Muscat has taken proactive measures to support students and parents grappling with stress.
Students and parents can now access the newly launched “ISM CareConnect” helpline, offering 24/7 counselling and emotional first aid. Available around the clock at +968 92012969, the service provides immediate support upon verification of the student’s GR number.
School authorities say such initiatives aim to ensure that students remain supported while they await further clarity from the board on the evaluation process.
