Teachers' Vaccination Hopes Fade :: Mmegi Online

Frustration is mounting as teachers await the roll-out of their vaccination programme before the scheduled reopening of schools on August 17, 2021. The teaching profession has been one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with teachers’ unions saying the death toll could swell if schools reopen before teachers get their jabs.

Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) and Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) have fought relentlessly with government for the closure of schools and subsequent vaccination of teachers due to the alarming COVID-19 infections and related deaths. Although the government finally bowed to pressure and closed schools a fortnight ago, there seems to be no vaccine in sight for teachers.

This is despite President Mokgweetsi Masisi making endless promises that teachers, who have been classified as frontline workers, would be prioritised for vaccination. With a little over two weeks before schools reopen amid a vaccine shortage, BOSETU president Winston Radikolo said teachers have grown frustrated by the endless promises without any delivery on the part of the government. Radikolo said authorities have been piling promises to vaccinate teachers but without any assurances.

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