The Education Ministry has instructed all schools to ensure that all employees of the school are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before the beginning of the new school year.
The Maldives launched its nationwide COVID-19 vaccine program on February 1. However, a fair number of people are yet to receive the full dose of the vaccine. Vaccine administration has been halted in the Greater Male' Area for the Eid holidays.
A notice sent to local schools by the ministry said all staff must be fully vaccinated before the academic year kicks off in August. The ministry said it will facilitate the arrangement for unvaccinated staff to get their jabs, in liaison with the Health Protection Agency (HPA). School employees who cannot receive the vaccine for any reason are asked to inform the ministry in writing with details of the circumstance.
One of the sectors that have faced the most disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic is the education sector. Schools were closed for the most part over the past year.
