Coronavirus: Govt to vaccinate all teachers by June 5 to resume educational activities

• Govt makes it mandatory for examination and invigilation staff to get themselves vaccinated before board exams.
• Federal education ministry asks all chief secretaries to swiftly implement the decision.
• Spokesperson says intended deadline to get education sector vaccinated as per government's policy is June 5.

The federal government has decided to vaccinate all teachers of the country by June 5, said a spokesperson of the ministry on Thursday.

"The federal government has decided to support the education sector through targeted vaccination of its teaching and support staff."

This decision has been taken in consultation with the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to bring an end to the disruption in the education sector and reduce learning losses, said a spokesperson of the ministry in a statement.

The official said that the government has also made it mandatory for the examination and invigilation staff to get themselves vaccinated if they wish to take part in the upcoming board exams.

Read more: NCOC allows reopening of schools in districts with less than 5% coronavirus positivity ratio

"The federal ministry of education is approaching the NCOC to assist respective provincial and area governments for speedy vaccination of teaching and support staff," said that statement. It added that the ministry has sent letters to all the chief secretaries to swiftly implement the decision.

"The intended deadline to get the education sector vaccinated as per the government's laid down policy is June 5," read the statement.

The education sector is one of the worst affected by the coronavirus. The government, at multiple times, has opened the education sector but it has been forced to shut down it due to the rising number of cases.

Read more: Sindh minister says no final decision taken for matric exams date 

Last year, the government had decided to promote students to the next grade without exams, but this year, it has been adamant about holding the exams.

Even in its most recent decision, the NCOC allowed the reopening of schools in districts where the COVID-19 positivity ratio is less than 5%.