Almost 50pc of the teaching staff want to get vaccinated, Education minister says

Almost 50% of the teaching staff in Romania want to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, Education minister Sorin Cimpeanu told a private broadcaster on Wednesday evening. The percent of teachers who want to take the vaccine in the academic environment is around 60%.

The survey among the employees in the education system is ending on Friday at 16:00hrs.

As for the re-opening of schools, the minister reiterated the fact that the Government wants schools re-opened as soon as possible and that no scenario in this regard is ruled out.

“The resuming of physical classes will be though done provided the epidemiological situation remains stable, and of course, also depending on the vaccination campaign. We launched a survey among the teachers, all those 340,000 employees in the educational system on the willingness to get vaccinated (…) In order to make up for any lost class time prompted by the online learning, we must obviously resume physical classes. That’s why I said no scenario will be ruled out, including that schools will be re-opened as a priority in the areas with a low infection rates, as well primary schools and kindergartens or 8th and 12th grades who have national exams ahead”, the minister stated.

Latest: President Klaus Iohannis has convened PM Florin Citu, ministers of Education and Health, Sorin Cîmpeanu and Vlad Voiculescu, as well as other health care experts to Cotroceni Palace this afternoon at 16:00hrs to discuss the issue of re-opening schools as of February 8, with the start of the second semester.