The Ministry of Education and Higher Education, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), has provided COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits to schools for distribution among students, an official has said.
“The schools have been directed to send text message to parents notifying them to collect rapid antigen test kits from school starting from today until the reopening of schools,” said Director of Health and Safety Department at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Mohammed Al Maraghi.
He did not elaborate if the test kits will be provided to private schools too.
Schools that reopened this week for teachers will receive students on Sunday, August 21, for 2022-23 academic year.
“All students are required to take rapid antigen test at home. If the test is negative, parents will sign a pledge to acknowledge that the information provided is accurate,” said Al Maraghi. He was speaking to Al Kass television channel yesterday.
He said that the pledge form called ‘Parent/ Guardian Declaration Form’ will be submitted to school on the first day of students returning to schools.
“Following COVID-19 preventive measures, students and school staff are required to take rapid antigen test only one time. Wearing masks at schools during first two weeks is also mandatory,” said Al Maraghi.
He said the measures aim to protect students, teachers and other staff from COVID-19, as most people travelled abroad during the vacation.
“The situation of COVID-19 pandemic is much better compared to previous years. This is the third academic year since the emergence of the pandemic,” said Al Maraghi.
He said there was very close coordination between the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) ahead of the new academic year to put preventive measures for safe return of students to schools.
“This week we received teachers following the same measures. They also underwent rapid antigen tests.”
All staff and students at all government and private nurseries, kindergartens, and schools are required to take a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 within 48 hours before they return to school for the new academic year, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced earlier.
The test is required only once, at the start of the academic year, and not on a weekly basis. It can be taken at home or at one of the designated centres, the Ministry said in its statement.
The decision came following the ongoing preparations for the academic year 2022-23, and the efforts of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in combating the spread of the coronavirus, and in light of the current health indicators of the virus, and after coordination with the Ministry of Public Health.
To enter a school or a higher education institute, students and staff will have to produce a negative test result. Anyone testing positive must visit the nearest health centre and follow the precautionary measures established in this regard.