Assam: Vaccination Not Mandatory for Students Appearing for HSLC/HS Exams

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that unvaccinated students will be allowed to take the 10th and 12th board exams this year.

Sarma had earlier urged all students to get vaccinated before the commencement of the 10th and 12th board exams.

According to senior officials in the Assam education department, 18 per cent of the students in the age group of 15 to 18 years have been fully vaccinated.

Over 90 per cent of the students inn this age group have been administered with the first dose.

"If they take the vaccine now, the double dose will be completed before the board exams begin," said CM Sarma while addressing the media recently.

The state government had mentioned earlier that the examinees must be vaccinated before the exams.

"We cannot stop unvaccinated students from appearing in exams as the Union government has told the Supreme Court that the vaccine is voluntary," said an official of the state education department.

An awareness campaign has also been launched in schools to urge all students appearing for the board exams to get themselves vaccinated. for the vaccination.

"It is a humble appeal to all board examinees to get vaccinated voluntarliy," stated Munidra Nath Ngatey, state nodal officer for Covid-19 vaccination.

The Higher Secondary (HS) examinations to be conducted by the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC), will be held from March 15 to April 12. The exams will be held in double shifts on most days.

Meanwhile, the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examinations to be conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (SEBA), will be held from March 15 to 31.