AHMEDABAD: While vaccination has been opened for the 15-18 years age group, many schools in the city have gone one step further, and made getting jabbed mandatory for students who wish to attend classes in person.
The state government shut down in-person education for Classes 1 to 9, and classroom attendance is optional for Classes 10 to 12. Over the past month, more than 1,500 schoolchildren tested positive for Covid-19 in Gujarat. Several schools have also opted to conduct only online classes.
Raja Pathak, trustee of Satva Vikas School, said, “In line with govt guidelines, we have made it mandatory for students wishing to attend in-person classes to get vaccinated. This is to push for maximum coverage in the 15 to 18 years age group.”
On the other hand, guardians of school students say that the guidelines of the Centre or state do not say that vaccination for students is to be made mandatory.
Many schools witnessed 70-80 per cent of their eligible students getting vaccinated, after Covid immunization was opened to the 15-18 years age group on January 3. tnn
