Tuesday 03 / March / 2026
Muscat: More than 5,000 students in Oman preparing for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class X and Class XII examinations are in a state of uncertainty after the Board announced the postponement of key papers scheduled this week across the GCC region.
In a formal circular issued on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the CBSE stated that “due to prevailing circumstances, all examinations originally scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026, and Friday, March 6, 2026, have been officially postponed.”
The directive applies to students residing in Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait and the UAE.
The Board further said it will conduct a comprehensive review of the situation on March 5 to determine the status of examinations scheduled from March 7 onwards. Until then, students whose exams are slated for next week remain in a “wait and see” situation, pending further instructions from schools.
Anxiety peaks among students
The sudden decision has disrupted carefully planned study schedules, leaving students anxious during one of the most crucial academic phases of their lives.
“It’s very stressful,” said Ananya S., a Class XII student in Muscat. “We had mentally prepared for specific subjects on fixed dates. Now everything feels uncertain. It’s hard to focus when you don’t know what’s coming next.”
A Class X student echoed similar concerns: “We keep checking school portals and messages every hour. Instead of revising, we are discussing whether exams will be online or postponed again.”
Many students say the regional tensions and security concerns have already created an unsettling environment, making concentration difficult.
Parents voice concern
Parents, too, have expressed worry over the emotional and academic impact on their children. “How will students study hearing bomb sounds and constant news updates?” asked one parent in Dubai. “Their results are surely going to be affected. Examiners should keep this in mind while evaluating answer sheets.”
Another parent said the uncertainty is more stressful than the exams themselves. “If they postpone, they should clearly announce new dates. Keeping children in suspense is unfair during board exams.”
Parents are also concerned about potential last-minute rescheduling that could compress multiple exams into a short period, adding to the pressure.
What happens next?
The CBSE has not yet announced revised dates for the postponed papers. Updated schedules will be communicated through official notifications to schools and students in due course.
In its advisory, the Board urged students and parents to maintain regular contact with their respective school administrations for localised updates and instructions. It also strictly advised students to rely solely on official announcements released via the CBSE website or designated school portals and refrain from circulating or depending on unofficial sources.
Possible scenarios if crisis continues
Education experts and parents speculate that if the conflict in the region lingers, three possible outcomes could emerge:
1) The remaining examinations for students in affected GCC countries could be conducted online.
2) Students may be awarded average marks based on their Grade 11 and 12 performance for papers they are unable to attend.
3) All remaining exams could be rescheduled abruptly, leading to a compressed timetable.
For now, thousands of students across Oman and the wider Gulf remain in limbo, balancing textbooks with tension, hoping for clarity in the coming days.
