All hands on deck when schools reopen – Motshekga
“When schools reopen, we will expect all our teachers, including those with comorbidities, to return to work.”
The education department hopes to have all its teachers with comorbidities reporting back to work when schools reopen on July 19.
This despite 9 113 educators and support staff, some with comorbidities, refusing to take the Covid-19 vaccine, according to the Gauteng Department of Education.
Spokesperson for the MEC Steve Mabona said in Tshwane 828 teachers had refused Covid-19 vaccinations, but that the department was encouraging teachers to get vaccinated.
“A bulk SMS was sent to all principals to share with all staff, and we continue to use any available platform to try to persuade them.”
During a media briefing on Wednesday at the Gallagher Estate vaccination site in Midrand, education minister Angie Motshekga said the department respected individuals’ rights not to be vaccinated.
“However, when schools reopen, we expect all teachers to return to work.
“We have 16 000 teachers who have been on special leave due to the fact that they have comorbidities.
“We have discussed this matter with the teacher unions, and all five that are part of the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC), are in full support of this position.”
She said the department would not need to develop any additional policies as it had sufficient policies to address the current situation of the pandemic.
Motshekga requested that a special ELRC meeting be convened on Friday, to further discuss a proposal in the form of a draft collective agreement.
“This draft collective agreement aims to guide the operational requirements for educators employed in terms of the employment of educators act, following the implementation of the basic education sector Covid-19 vaccination programme.
“The agreement will also serve as a guide to manage vulnerable employees in the context of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.”
She said the department hoped to finalise the agreement process with the teacher unions before schools reopened.
The department would also ask for an extension of the vaccination deadline “to mop-up the outstanding vaccinations”, due to teachers and staff who recently tested positive for Covid-19 and those who took the flu vaccine.
“We would like to appeal to all our personnel to get the vaccine.”
Thomas Hlongwane president of the South African Principals’ Association in Gauteng also appealed to teachers and staff to get vaccinated, assuring them that vaccines were safe.
“We are concerned about the high number of staff who are unwilling to vaccinate, hence we suggested to the department that faith-based leaders be roped in.
“With the deadline of July 8 looming, we have seen a lot of teachers changing their minds and agree to vaccinate.”
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