Countries try to keep schools in-person; Iranian officials emphasize students' "self-expression"

Iranian authorities are emphasizing in-person school activities while not having a plan to prevent students and school officials from contracting the coronavirus, especially during the Amicron outbreak.

Iran's Minister of Education has said that the National Coronavirus Task Force has been asked to allow schools to operate in person "as much as possible" and to refrain from closing them.

Yousef Nouri also said that it is not mandatory for students to present a vaccine card or a 15-day PCR test if they have not been vaccinated to enter school and take exams.

Iran's Minister of Education says: "Unless a student declares that he is sick or has tested positive, in which case he cannot come to school until he recovers."

This is despite the fact that no vaccine has yet been approved for children under 12 years of age in Iran.

A large number of countries around the world administer the Pfizer vaccine to this age group, but its entry into Iran was banned by the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran and has not yet entered the country for public use.

The Iranian Ministry of Health has considered Sinopharm and Pasteurovac vaccines for children under 12 years of age, and Pasteurovac has been tested in Cuba on this age group.

The Iranian Ministry of Education has announced that so far 85% of students aged 12 to 18 have received their first dose of the vaccine and 72% have received their second dose.

In other countries, in-person school activities are one of the biggest challenges these days, but numerous measures have been taken to prevent students from contracting the coronavirus.

In the United States, the Biden administration announced on Wednesday that millions of free coronavirus tests will be distributed to schools across the United States to keep classrooms open.

Last year, the US allocated $10 billion for COVID-19 testing in schools. The US government is currently distributing 5 million free rapid antigen tests per month to elementary through high schools. The White House has said that 96% of schools are now open.

Source: Voice of America