FTA pleads to Government to consider the plea of teachers who were late in receiving their COVID-19 jabs

The Fijian Teachers Association is pleading to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to consider the plea of teachers who had their teaching registrations de-registered because they were late in receiving their COVID-19 jabs.

FTA General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga says some teachers were sick and could not receive their jabs on time.

He says these teachers are now fully vaccinated.

Manumanunitoga claims that teachers are being treated like ants.

He says the Association is disappointed by the comments made by the Education Ministry and is pleading to the leaders of the nation to consider the plight of the citizens of this country.

We have sent questions to the Permanent Secretary for Education Dr Anjeela Jokhan, however, she is yet to respond.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Education Premila Kumar stated last month that teachers whose contracts will be terminated can still apply for a job with the Ministry when there is a vacancy provided they get vaccinated.

She revealed that some teachers later decided to get vaccinated. According to the Ministry of Education, 99.4 percent of teachers are fully vaccinated.

In October, the Ministry terminated 130 teachers who did not receive their first jab by August 15th, which was the condition under the “No Jab No Job” Policy.

The Ministry says eleven teachers are yet to receive their second jab, 1 has been granted an exemption by the Permanent Secretary for Health, and 13 teachers are awaiting confirmation on the exemption from the Health Ministry.

They say those teachers that were terminated had written to the Ministry expressing their decision not to get vaccinated and the Ministry have replaced them.