The Education Ministry has stated that those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 cannot enter school premises, effective fro September.
An announcement issued by the ministry on Sunday said it made the decision to bar unvaccinated individuals from entering school premises under efforts to ensure the academic year remains uninterrupted and as a precautionary measure against COVID-19. It urged the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect students from the virus.
The Maldives began its COVID-19 vaccination campaign in February this year. However, over 27 percent of the eligible population still remain unvaccinated. The Education Ministery has previously instructed all teachers and other personnel employed at schools to fully vaccinate themselves against the virus before the new academic year kicks off on August 10. The ministry had also said it would facilitate easier vaccine administration for school employees, 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, and online classes were conducted during the period.
