Central SA
Government urged to prioritise vaccination of educators─── 10:12 Wed, 02 Jun 2021
Education expert, Mary Metcalfe, has suggested that government prioritise the vaccination of educators – as the country prepares to enter a possible third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Phase two of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine rollout is currently focusing on people over the age of 60.
The Department of Basic Education has taken a decision to return children to school on a full-time teaching schedule by the end of July.
Metcalfe says face-to-face learning could pose a threat to teachers.
“In terms of the third wave, I think that there is a push to say that we should prioritise the vaccination of teachers in light of the fact that we are going into a third wave and learners are going back to school every day.”
“I am sure that all education stakeholders are aware that the risks are primarily to healthcare workers and the aged [elderly] but in the queue of people who are going to be vaccinated, teachers need to be high on the list,” explains Metcalfe.
