Mita Mukherjee
The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has clarified that vaccination of students is neither “compulsory, mandatory nor a pre-condition” for students appearing for ICSE and ISC Semester 2 examination.
The council on Friday reminded that in its advisory to the schools on January 4, 2022 regarding vaccination of students between the ages 15 to 18 years it had only advised the heads of schools to encourage parents and guardians of their schools to get their wards in the age group of 15 to 18 years vaccinated at the earliest.
The ICSE and ISC Semester 2 examinations are scheduled to start from April 25 and 25 respectively.
The council has said in its April 22 circular said it has been brought to its attention through media reports that some schools were making it mandatory for the ICSE and ISC candidates appearing in the Semester 2 examinations to be vaccinated. “This is not in keeping to the note sent by the CISCE,” the council said.
In its circular, the council said, “ The CISCE reiterates the above as being only an advisory to all affiliated schools. It is neither compulsory, mandatory nor a pre-condition for candidates appearing for the ICSE & ISC Year 2022 Semester 2 Examinations scheduled to commence from 25th & 26th April 2022 respectively.”
The council has directed the schools to inform all stakeholders accordingly.
Parents of several schools had complained about schools forcibly administering vaccination to schoolchildren for attending in-person classes and offline exams citing the council’s January 4 advisory.
The CISCE had earlier said in its advisory that vaccination was a positive step for Classes X and XII and it would ensure the safety of children to “ attend classes, do the practical work or to appear for the Semester 2.”
As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India guidelines under Covid 19 vaccination programme all children in the age group of 15-18 years are eligible to take the Covid-19 vaccination from January 3 2022 onwards.
Also read: ICSE & ISC Semester 2 exams to start on April 25: CISCE