By Agnes Kiconco

KIU, Main Campus -  The Ministry of Education and Sports on Monday, 27th September, confirmed an increased number of teaching staff vaccinated against COVID-19 over the past days.

"Teaching staff who have received their 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccination have increased from 269,445 (49 percent) 7 days ago to 296,614 (54 percent) as of 27th Sept. 2021," updated the ministry via social media.

On the other hand, about 102,418 (19 percent) are expected to receive a second shot of the vaccine.

The rising number of vaccinated teaching staff is heavily dependent on the Presidential address where President Yoweri Museveni last week advised teaching and non-teaching staff in educational institutions to have their staff and students vaccinated so as to have the schools reopened.

According to Ugandan health authorities, vaccinating priority groups such as teachers will help reopen schools for more than about 10 million pupils and students who have not been to school for 18 months because learning institutions were suspended so as to control the spread of the virus.

After successful vaccination of the eligible population of children aged 12 to 18 years old has taken place, the  President also announced that universities and tertiary institutions will reopen on 1st November 2021.

With the increased rate of vaccination of teachers, the country hopes to stabilize more by ensuring school reopening starting from tertiary institutions come 1st November 2021.

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