ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government will prioritize the vaccination of teachers and school support staff, the Ministry of Education said on Thursday, as educational institutions are set to reopen next week.
After a drop in coronavirus cases in the last two weeks, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), which oversees Pakistan's pandemic response, on Wednesday announced the lifting of more coronavirus restrictions, including on school classes.
From May 24, educational institutions will reopen in all districts where the coronavirus positivity rate is below 5 percent, while all matric and intermediate exams are scheduled to be held after June 20.
"Federal Govt decides to vaccinate teachers & support staff on fast track to support education sector through targetted vaccination. Decision has been taken in consultation with NCOC to ensure elimination of disruption in education sector & reduce learning losses," the ministry said in a Twitter post.
Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood said the government's target is to have teachers vaccinated before the upcoming exams.
"Government has decided to give priority to teachers in vaccination. The target is that all teachers specially those conducting exams should have complete vaccination," he tweeted.
Parliamentary Secretary Education Wajiha Akram said the government seeks to get the education sector vaccinated by June 5.
The decision to fast-track the vaccination of teachers comes as Pakistan's immunization drive is picking up pace.
It aims to vaccinate at least 70 million of the country’s 220 million population by the end of this year and on Wednesday opened a mass COVID-19 vaccination center in Islamabad, where over 7,000 people will be able to get their jabs every day.
The country has so far administered 4.6 million vaccine doses to persons above the age of 40.
