Cairo: Around 76 per cent of schoolteachers in Saudi Arabia have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the run-up to the new academic year when in-person classes will be reinstated, the kingdom’s Education Ministry has said.
The ministry added that as part of preparations for the new school year, some 75 per cent of its administrative staff and 30 per cent of students have received the jabs so far.
It cited continued efforts to increase the numbers of the vaccinated people to protect health and ensure a safe education environment.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia started vaccinating students aged from 12 to 18 years against COVID-19 in preparation for the new school year.
Around 2.7 million students are eligible to inoculation in this age group, according to the Education Ministry.
In May, Saudi education authorities said that the new academic year will be divided into three semesters as the kingdom is preparing for revival of in-person classes in different education institutions.
The plan was unveiled by Saudi Education Minister Hamad Al Sheikh, who said that the new academic year will begin in late August and run until June 30, 2022.
Each of the three semesters will be made up of 13 weeks, with a week-long break, according to the minister.
The ministry said that schoolteachers and university teaching staff will have to show up in person at their workplaces in the new academic year.
The ministry also said that getting vaccinated will be obligatory for accessing all public and private schools, universities and technical training institutions.
Last year, Saudi Arabia suspended in-person classes and switched to distance-learning via a government platform as part of stringent measures to limit the spread of coronavirus
