CISCE: Mandating Covid vaccine to take ICSE, ISC exams discriminatory, says minister

NEW DELHI: Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, minister of school education, Maharashtra has requested the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and the union ministry of education for an urgent clarification regarding the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination criteria to attend the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and the Indian School Certificate (ISC) exams starting from April 25th.

Gaikwad said in a tweet that some CISCE board students have reached out to her regarding the advisory by the board mandating the Covid vaccine certificate for attending the ISC, ICSE board exam 2022. According to her, some schools are citing the CISCE advisory dated January 4, 2022, and saying that unvaccinated students will not be allowed to write the exam. She further said that not allowing unvaccinated students to attend the exams will be discriminatory.

She also mentioned that the schools are taking such a decision despite the centre's affidavit in the Supreme Court that vaccines are not mandatory.

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"While vaccines are a lifesaver against Covid not allowing unvaccinated students to take exams will be discriminatory. I would therefore urge the CISCE and the @EduMinofIndia to issue an urgent clarification in this regard. My office has already contacted the CISCE on the matter," she said in the tweet.

While vaccines are a life saver against Covid not allowing unvaccinated students to take exams will be discriminatory. I would therefore urge the CISCE and the @EduMinofIndia to
issue an urgent clarification in this regard. My office has already contacted the CISCE on the matter

— Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) April 21, 2022

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