COVID-19 vaccine: ‘Worried teachers need clarity on jabs’ – DA

South Africa’s teachers are set to begin receiving their COVID-19 vaccination jabs during what President Cyril Ramaphosa has called “phase two” of the rollout strategy to immunise the population, but the Democratic Alliance (DA) have on Sunday demanded that the nation’s educators be afforded more details about exactly when they will be eligible. 

‘Teacher shortage’ looming 

The desperately concerning threat to South Africa’s teachers was  described by by the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) Director-General Mathanzima Mweli in December. Speaking in a video statement, he explained that there has been a ‘tragic demise’ amongst the country’s collective of teachers, and the numbers he produced from 2020 make for grim reading:

• Over 1 600 teachers in SA are believed to have succumbed to COVID-19 this year.
• One school in uMgungundlovu, KwaZulu-Natal, has been decimated: 11 teachers, and three admin workers have all passed away.
• Sadtu estimate that 73 teachers have died since schools were closed on 15 December 2020.

He went on to suggest that a ‘teacher shortage” is looming. 

“We are extremely alarmed by the tragic demise of our teachers. The immediate impact of this shortage is troubling. When schools reopen in January, we worry about the impact this will have on ensuring every teacher can help every learner in 2021.”

‘Teacher vaccinations ‘urgent’ – DA 

Baxolile Nodada, the DA’s Shadow Minister of Basic Education, said that in light of these disturbing trends and projections, the vaccination of teachers is urgently required as soon as possible. 

“We are seeking a comprehensive timeline for these vaccinations as it is becoming clear that teachers are increasingly under threat due to the COVID-19 virus as number of teachers have already passed away since the beginning of the pandemic last year,” she said. 

He said that the DA welcomes the insistence from Ramaphosa that teachers will receive expedient immunisation, and the party have called for educators to be classified as essential frontline workers for vaccination.

“Teachers and their schooling communities need certainty that the process will not be bungled especially light of the number of teacher casualties due to COVID-19,” she said. 

DA  demand clarity on school reopening

Nodada said that teachers are understandably concerned about the upcoming academic year, especially given a recent surge in deaths at Matric marking centres. She said that while the vaccine is critical in keeping teachers and students safe, ultimately, schools together with their provincial DBE must work effectively to ensure that all COVID-19 protocols are adhered to, such as:

1. The proper implementation of social distancing protocols at schools;
2. Access to safe PPE, clean water, and proper sanitation;
3. An emergency health plan at all schools in response to positive cases; and
4. Clear plans for those teachers or learners who suffer from co-morbidities.

“It is also critical that the DBE release regulations and guidelines on the reopening of schools as a matter of urgency,” said Nodada. Schools are currently set to reopen on 15 February after recent COVID-19 outbreaks forced the DBE to delay the welcoming back of students and teachers.

“While delays to the 2021 academic year would be devastating, the safety of learners, teachers and other academic support staff is paramount.”