The ICSE council has advised school heads to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated “at the earliest”.
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) said on Tuesday the vaccination was a positive step for Classes of 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 Examinations”.
“...the CISCE has advised the heads of the CISCE affiliated schools to encourage the parents and guardians of their schools to get their wards in the age group of 15-18 years vaccinated at the earliest,” said Gerry Arathoon, the chief executive & secretary of CISCE in the press release.
“As per the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India guidelines..., under the National COVID Vaccination Program, all children in the age group of 15-18 years are eligible to take the Covid-19 vaccination from 3rd January 2022 onwards,” said the release.
“This is indeed a heartening and positive step in the right direction, for the students in the examination Classes of X & XII. It will ensure their safety and protection while leaving the safe confines of their homes to travel to school, either to attend classes, do the practical work or to appear for the Semester 2 examinations.”
The council had earlier asked the schools to complete the Class XII (ISC) practicals and submit the marks by January 31.
Some of the ICSE schools have either started on Tuesday or are planning out their vaccination programme on the campus soon.
At least heads of three schools said they would have to conduct the practicals in school because they would have to follow the “council rules”.
“Students will be called in small batches and the practicals will be conducted,” said a school head.
The state government on Sunday announced that on-campus classes have been suspended amid rising Covid cases. Many schools that were scheduled to reopen this week shifted to the online classes.
The government had given schools the go ahead to start classes on the campus from November 16. The board exams for ICSE (Class X), ISC (Class XII) and CBSE Class X and XII were held offline on campus as well.
Some of the ISC schools had also conducted practical classes for Class XII students in December. But in most schools the practical exams are yet to be conducted.