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Teachers threaten TU action once schools open

27 May 2021

By Buddhika Samaraweera   Trade unions representing teachers have threatened educational and health authorities that they would embark on trade union action once schools reopen, unless arrangements are made to vaccinate all teachers islandwide against Covid-19 prior to the reopening, The Morning learnt. Speaking to The Morning, Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) Secretary Joseph Stalin noted that it is important that all teachers are vaccinated by the time schools reopen and in this regard, stressed that the authorities, including the Ministry of Education, should give priority to the health and safety of teachers who work with large numbers of children. “Anti-Covid-19 vaccines are even being given to the family members of some professional categories. Teachers in other countries have already been vaccinated. Those countries have now started vaccinating children, but there is not even a thought of vaccinating children in Sri Lanka," he claimed. Meanwhile, Ceylon Teachers’ Services Union (CTSU) Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe, speaking to The Morning, said that although the Ministry of Education has been informed on several occasions regarding the matter, no action has been taken so far to vaccinate teachers. “Last year, we requested vaccinations for teachers involved in the General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O/L) examination duties, but it did not materialise. In February this year we sent a letter to Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris informing him of this, but there was no response. In addition, a letter was sent to him again on 13 May and we even informed the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) about this,” he said. Speaking further, Jayasinghe, echoing Stalin, said that teachers work very closely with students, and that therefore, are at high risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus. “Some teachers have been vaccinated during community vaccination programmes organised in certain areas. But at the moment, there is a need for a teacher-targeted vaccination programme covering all the provinces,” he added, once again echoing Stalin’s views. He also noted that trade unions had not been given a single opportunity to meet and discuss these issues with the Minister of Education. Meanwhile, when contacted by The Morning, Ministry of Education Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera said that the Ministry has made a request from the health authorities to provide vaccinations to teachers. He further said that Prof. Peiris had also made a request in this regard to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Attempts to contact Prof. Peiris to inquire about the matter were unsuccessful.


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