New South Wales (NSW) has lost up to 4,900 teachers who have not been fully vaccinated with COVID-19 and have refused to book appointments for jabs.
News of staff loss comes when the mandatory immunization deadline for all faculty and non-faculty staff in New South Wales schools comes on Monday.
At a parliamentary hearing last week, New South Wales Chief Human Resources Officer Yvette Kakia said that as of November 1, 4,900 school teachers had not yet submitted vaccination status. Stated.
Unvaccinated people are said to be given the opportunity to book vaccinations immediately, but if they refuse to do so, their contract will expire.
“As of November 1, there is 97% compliance for complete vaccination,” Cachia said on November 2 (pdf).
“About 4,900 haven’t been proven yet, but I don’t think this is surprising either. Many will do so in the next few days.”
About 95-97% of non-faculty employees, including managers, short-term temporary employees and corporate employees, are fully vaccinated.
The Epoch Times contacted the New South Wales Department of Education about the total number of teachers suspended today as a result of mandate, but did not respond in time for the announcement.
MP Mark Latham of one country, who chaired the hearing, asked why the department did not use rapid antigen testing instead of confronting unvaccinated teachers.
New South Wales Minister of Education Sarah Mitchell replied that antigen testing was not a substitute for vaccination, especially in an elementary school environment where children were not vaccinated.
“It’s the best way we can protect our students and staff,” Mitchell said. “Rapid antigen testing does play a role … but it’s not a substitute for vaccination.”
The news of loss comes as NSW faces a shortage of teachers.
According to an April report, the state needed to hire at least 11,000 additional teachers over the next decade to meet growing demand, excluding existing shortages.
The Independent Education Union (IEU) said in October that a shortage of teachers needed to be resolved immediately.
“The shortage of teachers has only intensified over the years,” said Carol Matthews, IEUNSW Secretary-General. Said.. “And it’s not just in math and science subjects, but throughout the curriculum. It’s not limited to the region. The metro parish is also in a pinch.”
“You know you’re having a problem when a school on the North Shore of Sydney is having a hard time securing staff.”
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