The Ministry of Education says it plans to systematically re-open schools once all school teachers are fully vaccinated as the second dose will be administered prior to the 29th of August.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Ministry premises today, Minister Prof. GL Peiris said in preparation to reopen schools, the Secretary to the Ministry issued a circular to all involved in the education sector to report to work.
Minister Peiris claimed 85 percent of school teachers have been vaccinated with the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of this morning.
The Minister said the circular was not issued by the Secretary to the Ministry of Education for personal gain but with the aim of re-opening schools as Online Education is not a complete substitution.
He said schools cannot be re-opened at a whim adding the government requested teachers and principals to return in order to restart the process.
Minister Peiris added the circular was issued considering the well-being of students and not with the aim of threatening teachers.
The Minister said one of the main requirements for re-opening schools is fully vaccinating the country’s 242,000 teachers and claimed that the government has invested heavily in the vaccination drive which is a complicated process
