ISLAMABAD: The Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira) on Friday directed all private schools to ensure vaccination of all students in the age group of 12 to 18 as schools are all set to start regular classes from Monday.

The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) also decided to get vaccinated all students in the 12-18 age group.

Following the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC)’s decision on Thursday, the educational institutions are going to stop alternate day classes as all educational institutions are allowed to operate with 100pc attendance from Monday.

Peira in a letter addressed to all private schools of Islamabad stated that vaccination is mandatory for all students aged between 12 and 18 years to protect them against Covid-19 and provide safety as well as improved immunity.

Educational institutions to resume normal classes from Monday

“For age group of 12-18 years, Pfizer vaccine shall be administered through mobile vaccination teams in schools or at nearby Covid-19 vaccination centres.”

The letter further said there would be no change in cutoff dates for student vaccination i.e partial vaccination by Oct 31 and full vaccination by Nov 30.

It said staff without vaccination will not be allowed to enter a school and college. The letter said the management of an institution is responsible to submit a certificate regarding vaccination of 100pc staff and students in the age group of 12 and above.

Meanwhile, it was also decided that each Saturday of the week will be observed as the vaccination day in all institutions. An official of the education ministry said schools may remain open for extended hours to afford sufficient time for vaccination of students.

He said as per decision of NCOC, the last week of October and Novembers will be observed as the vaccination week in all educational institutions.

When contacted, FDE’s spokesperson and director schools Abdul Waheed said NCOC’s decision will be fully implemented in all public schools of Islamabad. He said besides the vaccination process, all schools are supposed to observe strict compliance to Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs), including wearing of a mask and social distancing.

The NCOC after observing a decline in Covid-19 cases on Thursday decided to allow normal classes across the country from Monday. “Based on the reduced level of disease spread and the launch of the school vaccination programme, it has been decided in today’s NCOC meeting to allow all educational institutions to start normal classes from Monday October11,” Planning Minister Asad Umar had tweeted on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2021