Maharashtra Govt. aims to Vax all teaching staff before reopening schools, says Ajit Pawar

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Pune: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday disclosed that the state government has planned to fully vaccinate all teaching and non-teaching staff before the reopening of schools in the state.  

Speaking to newspersons in Mumbai, Pawar reiterated that the final decision on starting schools in the state would be taken by the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray after his discussion with the State Covid-19 task force which is due on Sunday 

“While, (Minister for School Education) Varsha Gaikwad had declared a reopening date during an earlier review, but the final decision rests with the CM who has said he would announce a date only after discussing the matter with the task force…while schools have reopened in some states, students tested positive within a few days. Kerala has the highest number of patients, followed by Maharashtra and even the Centre has directed to take required measures to celebrate festivals indoors,” he said.

Pawar further added, “Hence, we have decided that until a decision is taken, we have decided to fully vaccinate teaching and non-teaching staff in schools, be they Zilla Parishad or government schools, grant or non-grant institutions”.

“By this, even parents will be relieved to an extent if both doses of the vaccine are administered to teachers and other staff of the school their child is attending,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Minister of State for School Education, Bacchu Kadu, informed that a decision on reopening of schools in Maharashtra will be taken in the next two days. 

“A meeting on this is to be held within the next couple of days. Schools have started in other parts of the country, so, it should be started in our own state too. But the decision will have to be taken carefully keeping in mind that Maharashtra has the highest active cases after Kerala,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister for Public Health Rajesh Tope on Sunday had said the State government planned to fully vaccinate all teaching and non-teaching staff against Covid-19 by September 5. 

Tope had said that a special drive was being conducted to achieve this, and that the State Covid-19 task force was of the opinion that schools in districts which were not reporting positive cases could be re-opened.