Teachers' Vaccination Hopes Fade

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.