CBSE schools in the city can reschedule a board exam practical for a Class XII student if he or she tests positive for Covid-19, principals have been told.

The regional office of the CBSE has said that if any candidate tests positive for Covid-19 and “is not in a position to appear in the practical exam”, the practical for that student can be held at a later date.

Heads of at least two schools said that this decision will reassure parents and students.

Several schools in the city have either started the Class XII board practicals or will start soon amid rising Covid cases.

Three city schools closed down for about a week because two students and a teacher tested positive.

But there is still no information regarding theory papers, which are to begin on May 4 (for Classes X and XII).

For any board exam-related decision, the schools will have to follow instructions from the board.

“You may conduct practical exam of Covid-19 positive (student).... again in later stage and submit their marks manually so that we can upload the marks manually from (the) regional office,” said the message for all schools under the regional office, Bhubaneswar.

The candidates appear for the practicals in their respective schools and external examiners conduct the exams.

“If a student cannot appear for the practicals (after testing positive), the school can reschedule his or her exam. The external examiner will have to come at a later date to conduct the practical. We will have to send a letter to the board office informing them about the candidate,” said Loveleen Saigal, the principal of Birla High School, which is scheduled to start the practicals on March 31.

“We wanted to finish the pre-board exams before starting the practicals,” she said.

The schools can send the marks of the candidate who appears separately for the practical exam by post so it can be manually uploaded by the regional office. The schools can upload the practical marks of all other students.

Principals said the communication from the board will encourage parents not to hide a child’s health information from the school.

“It is reassuring for parents because they will know that the child will not miss the exam,” said Rita Chatterjee, director, North Point Senior Secondary Boarding Schools.