The ICSE council has included “safety instructions” for Covid-19 in the ISC Class XII admit cards issued this year.

The council started sending the admit cards to the schools two weeks ago.

The council started sending the admit cards to the schools over the last couple of weeks.

The heads of several schools said the safety instructions would serve as a reminder to students to follow the Covid protocols because they would have to carry the admit cards to the exam centres.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations has specified the following safety instructions:

• Maintain safe distance
• Wear mask properly
• Wash hands frequently

“The council has stated that the Covid safety protocols mentioned in the instructions published with the timetable should be followed by each examinee. To put more stress on the safety protocols, the council has mentioned it in the admit cards as well,” said Sujoy Biswas, the principal of Rammohan Mission High School.

The ISC theory papers will begin on May 4 and schools have to hold practical exams between April 1 and May 31.

“The mention of the protocols will be a ready reckoner for students. At no point should children forget that they have to follow these safety measures,” said Seema Sapru, principal, The Heritage School.

“Earlier, the council had also sent us (schools) safety guidelines that we have to follow,” she said.

Several schools said they are already following the Covid safety protocols, but a council instruction on a document that students are to carry with them adds more weight to the matter.

Parents have been concerned because of the rise in Covid-19 infections.

Three schools in the city had to shut down for about a week because two students and a teacher tested positive for Covid.

Last year, some tests could not be held across boards because of the pandemic.

Usually, the board exams are held in February and March but this year they have been delayed because of the pandemic.

The ICSE council was waiting for the dates of the Assembly elections before announcing the timetable for ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) exams.

Some schools have already issued admit cards to Class XII students and some are in the process of doing it.

“We have issued admit cards to students. We will start with practicals, which we have scheduled in such a way that they will be over by April. If students complete the practicals before they begin their theory papers, they will be less stressed,” said Bobby Baxter, the principal of Julien Day School Ganganagar.