ISC schools plan to introduce entrepreneurship across all streams from 2026

Several schools affiliated with the ISC board are preparing to introduce entrepreneurship as a subject for students from commerce, humanities, and science beginning with the 2026 academic year, while others are still evaluating the option.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), which oversees the ISC Class XII examinations, recently informed schools that entrepreneurship will be available as an elective from the 2028 examination cycle. As a result, institutions wishing to offer the subject from its initial rollout will need to begin teaching it in the 2026–27 session.

Following internal discussions, schools such as The Heritage School have confirmed that the subject will be open to students across all streams. La Martiniere for Girls, Sri Sri Academy, and St Augustine’s Day School in Shyamnagar have also decided to add entrepreneurship to their academic offerings. In contrast, National Gems Higher Secondary School has chosen to restrict the subject to commerce students for now.

School leaders have emphasized the growing importance of skill-based education, noting that the subject aligns with efforts to nurture creativity, innovation, and problem-solving abilities rather than focusing solely on traditional career paths. They believe entrepreneurship can help students develop resilience and adaptability, especially in an evolving economic environment.

Many institutions expect strong interest from Class XI students. Educators pointed out that science students today often wish to explore diverse career possibilities beyond conventional professional entrance exams, and introducing entrepreneurship helps keep multiple options open.

Other schools, including St Thomas’ Girls’ School Kidderpore, Calcutta Girls’ High School, and the Julien Day Group of Schools, have indicated that they are considering extending the subject to students from science and humanities in addition to commerce.

At the same time, schools are reviewing possible subject combinations and preparing for changes introduced by the council. CISCE has renamed the commerce stream as business studies, and until the 2026 examination year, commerce and business studies existed as separate subjects. This shift may require additional communication with parents, particularly for students who previously opted for business studies to avoid advanced mathematics.

Since Class XI admission processes are already underway in many schools, administrators anticipate the need for further counselling sessions to explain the revised subject structure and options.

Teachers in several institutions have been asked to examine the new syllabus in advance. School authorities are also assessing parental response and whether existing infrastructure and resources can support the subject effectively.

Overall, education leaders view entrepreneurship as a forward-looking addition that is likely to gain popularity and benefit students across a wide range of future career paths.