COLOMBO : Education Minister Prof. G.L.Peiris said on Thursday that the vaccination of teachers, principals and non-academic staff of Government schools will begin on July 12 on the directive of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
“It was agreed at a meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to vaccinate the academic staff of all Government schools throughout the country within a week,” Minister Peiris said.
The Minister was speaking at a press conference held at the Education Ministry in Battaramulla. State Minister Susil Premajayantha was also present. He said that the Ministry decided to vaccinate teachers, principals and non academic staff of 10,155 schools from July 12 following a virtual meeting with Governors, senior officials of Provincial Councils and health authorities yesterday morning.
Around 240,000 teachers will be eligible for vaccination.
The Minister said that the vaccination drive of Government school staff is the first of the strategies to be adopted by the government to re-open schools as the pandemic wanes.
The vaccination of school staff will instill a sense of confidence among the parents to send their children to the schools without fear, he noted. As part of this strategy, schools with less than 100 students are scheduled to open within this month in compliance with instructions given by the health officials.
