RIYADH — The Ministry of Education announced on Sunday that university and school students over the age of 12 will not be considered absent in the first two weeks of school if they have not yet received both COVID-19 vaccine doses. It decided to postpone the calculation of absence for the first two weeks from the beginning of the academic year for students who did not complete two doses of vaccination against coronavirus in order to give more time for the students to get inoculated. The ministry called on students to complete both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, in order to "achieve a safe in-person return to educational facilities, leading to community immunity and a return to normal life," as the new school year started on Sunday in the Kingdom. The latest decision will be applicable to students of universities, technical and vocational training institutes as well as for students of public education who have completed 12 years of age or above, according to spokesperson of the ministry for public education. This is to enable the students to take full doses of vaccine, and continue to restrict attendance to educational facilities for only those male and female students who have completed two doses of vaccine. The spokesperson called on students to come forward to complete immunization with taking two doses so as to enable them to have a safe and in-person return to educational facilities, apart from contributing to achieve herd immunity and a return to normal life. "The ministry is keen on ensuring smooth return to normal education process for our male and female students, as well as to preserve the safety of students, their families and the society as a whole. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health continue their cooperation and coordination to achieve a safe return to school," the spokesperson said.
