Delhi: Sisodia suggests reopening schools, 85% vaccinated

On Saturday, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia hinted at submitting a request to the DDMA to reopen schools in the national capital, citing the fact that the majority of pupils in upper grades have been immunized.

According to Sisodia, 85 percent of children in the national capital's government schools have been immunized against the new coronavirus. He did, however, mention that the vaccination push in Delhi's private schools was progressing at a "snail's pace."

He noted that only 42% of kids in private institutions had received vaccinations as of January 21.

Sisodia went on to say that the rate at which inoculations are administered in government schools is very noteworthy. He also praised the efforts of teachers and other government employees. "Teachers are are taking care of not just education but also vaccination of students. 100% vaccination of students will help us in shifting from online education to offline."

Approximately 3.5 lakh pupils in private schools are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine, but only about 2 lakh have been vaccinated so far, according to the minister, who also holds the education ministry.

He said, "While government schools are moving towards fulfilling their target of vaccination, inoculation is being done at a snail's pace in private schools. Except East Delhi district, private schools have failed to achieve even 50 percent vaccination coverage," he said.

"Even aided schools haven't fared well. So far, only 57 percent of students have been vaccinated in aided schools," he further added.

According to a government statement, almost 85 percent of students in Delhi government institutions between the ages of 15 and 18 have been vaccinated as of January 21.

The vaccination of students between the ages of 15 and 18 began on the 3rd of January.

In the meantime, the vaccination effort in private schools has failed to reach the 50% mark. "Only 42% of eligible students have been vaccinated in private schools till January 21. Private schools have about 3.5 lakh, eligible students, for COVID vaccination, but not even 2 lakhs have been vaccinated till date. Even aided schools haven't fared well. So far only 57% of students have been vaccinated in aided schools."

Because the previous two years have been extremely difficult and demanding for schoolchildren. Students have been confined to their homes as a result of the school shutdown, causing worry and panic among them, he said.

"It is important to understand their mental state, to bring them back to the normal situation. In view of this, we have decided to conduct the study on a large-scale to understand the changes in mental and emotional state of school children in the past two years and what steps can be taken for their well-being," Sisodia further said.

He added the study will look at "changes in parenting style, psychological and emotional state of parents, as children have spent the majority of their time during lockdown with them in the past two years," in addition to youngsters.