Can Unvaccinated Students Appear For Board Exams? Here's What Maharashtra Govt Says

Days ahead of the state board exams of SSC and HSC students, the Maharashtra government on Monday, February 14, in an official notification stated that unvaccinated students will be allowed to appear for the exam.

This statement comes at a time when offline oral exams for the Std 12^th of Maharashtra State Board for Secondary and Higher Secondary Examination (MSBSHSE) commenced on February 14.

Highlighting the case of a school in Maharashtra which forced class 10 students to get vaccinated or miss the exam, the state government notification said: “No school/high school should force their students to get the vaccination. Board exam will be open to all students, vaccinated or not.”

However, the schools and colleges have been asked to encourage students to get inoculated for their own safety. Though, the students should not be forced to take vaccine as many also have medical reasons for not opting to get inoculated, stated experts.

For those unversed, as per a statement released by the MSBSHSE in December last year, HSC oral exams will take place between February 14 to March 3, while written papers will be conducted from March 4 to April 7, 2022.

Similarly, SSC oral exams will be conducted from February 24 to March 14 and written exams will take place between March 15 and April 18, 2022.

Despite protests and rallies by the students to conduct online exams, state education minister for school education Varsha Gaikwad has repeatedly said board exams this year will be held offline.