Universities and colleges in Sittwe are expected to reopen in early December, according to education circles in the Arakan State capital, with a plan to provide Covid-19 vaccines for higher education students reportedly arranged.

An official directive from the Ministry of Health has not yet been received to reopen universities and colleges, said sources at Sittwe University.

Ko Phone Pyae Phyo, acting chair of the Sittwe University Students’ Union, said: “I heard about a directive saying to prepare for reopening universities and colleges on December 1. However, I do not know exactly when they will be reopened.”

Ko Min Soe Hlaing, general secretary of the University of Computer Studies Students’ Union in Sittwe, said: “Authorities of the university are collecting a list of students who are fully vaccinated to be ready for reopening the university. The date to reopen the university has not been announced officially yet.”

There are two universities and three colleges in Arakan State, and personnel from the higher education institutions are collecting corresponding lists of students for whom the Covid-19 vaccine will be provided.

Dr. Soe Win Paing, assistant director of the Public Health Department in Arakan State, said the relevant authorities have not yet communicated instructions on administering the Covid-19 vaccine to university and college students.

More than 500,000 out 1.9 million people who are 18 or older in Arakan State have been vaccinated against Covid-19, with the public vaccination campaign ongoing, according to the state’s Public Health Department.