MoHS, MoE discuss reopening of schools

A coordination meeting between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Sports was held to discuss schools’ reopening following the COVID-19 health guidelines yesterday in Nay Pyi Taw.
At the meeting, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Thet Khaing Win said the Ministry of Health and Sports is working to prevent the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, one of the next steps of the State Administration Council. The Government has lifted the travel restrictions and relaxed the health standards for the COVID-19 pandemic to resume tourism and public transportation.
He said coordination would be made with the Ministry of Education to reopen schools as the education sector is essential for human resource development.
With the COVID-19 preventive measures, a total of 6,500 high schools were reopened on 22 July 2020 and were closed due to the COVID-19 second wave on 27 August.
As the infection of the COVID-19 disease has been reduced at the moment and the State Administration Council needs to focus on students’ education, the Ministry of Health and Sports will assist the education staff, including teachers and students, to reopen schools safely.
In order to implement the reopening of schools, a technical review is needed, and the relevant specialized divisions of the Department of Public Health have jointly revised the assessment design. He called on experts from the Ministry of Health and Sports and the Ministry of Education to discuss the readiness to implement the revised assessment forms in all schools.
The Deputy Minister for Education requested the Ministry of Health and Sports to provide COVID-19 prevention technology when schools reopen, aid for the COVID-19 vaccination to the education staff and teachers, and release the COVID-19 prevention guidelines when private schools reopen. He said his ministry would assess the status of COVID-19 prevention activities in schools, allowing the reopening of schools that meet the standards with continuous monitoring and the Ministry of Health and Sports will be notified in case of disease is suspected.
The Deputy Director-General of the Department of Public Health discussed the plans of the Ministry of Health and Sports, and the Director of the Basic Education Department, the preparation of schools to be ready when schools reopen.
The Union Minister for Health and Sports said civil services personnel are being vaccinated. Teachers will also be vaccinated as necessary when schools reopen.—MNA