Teachers are not required to disclose their vaccination status, even as students are being encouraged to take the Pfizer vaccine in order to return to face-to-face classes.
A total of 9,000 vaccines have been allocated to teachers and just last week, the Ministry of Health stated that teachers could also access the Pfizer vaccine that was reserved for the 12 to 18 age group.
However, there is no word on the number of teachers who have so far actually been vaccinated.
Speaking to Guardian Media yesterday, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsy-Dolly said, "Teachers are not required to declare their vaccination status at this time. The number of teachers vaccinated can only be determined if that is required.”
The Minister was asked whether the issue of only vaccinated teachers being able to conduct in-person classes with students was discussed during the three-day Cabinet retreat last week in Tobago.
"Exactly what the PM (Prime Minister) announced is what was discussed. Therefore, no," Gadsby-Dolly said.
However, while teacher vaccination numbers are not being tracked at this time, student vaccinations are.
Several parents of children going into Forms Four, Five and Six yesterday confirmed to Guardian Media that they had received letters from schools asking them for the vaccination status of their child, along with the choice of subjects they have selected.
Guardian Media sent messages and called Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) president Antonia Tekah-De Freitas and first vice president Marlon Seales about the number of vaccinated teachers and whether the union had a stance on only vaccinated teachers being allowed to interface with students but got no response from either executive. (See story on Page 10)
When some teachers were asked to physically attend schools last week to prepare for the virtual resumption of classes, however, the union issued a statement advising teachers to stay away from the schools. The union reminded teachers that there was no need to be physically present at the schools, as classes remain virtual for now.
"The association, therefore, takes this opportunity to reiterate to all our members that while there is a responsibility to report for duty on Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd September 2021, as per the established norm associated with the reopening of schools, there is no need to report in person," TTUTA said.
"It is imperative of all our members to do their part to ensure that we act responsibly with respect to our duties and simultaneously to our health and well-being. TTUTA, therefore, agrees with the Ministry of Education and advocates for virtual operation at this time"
Guardian Media messaged Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday asking whether the policy for allowing only vaccinated people in safe zones extended to schools and whether only vaccinated teachers would be allowed to interact with students.
He did not respond up to late yesterday. However, in July, Rowley said he was disappointed that many teachers remained unvaccinated despite the Government’s mass vaccination programme that targeted them early on.
The Government had allocated thousands of AstraZeneca vaccines for teachers and back in July, the PM said that the slow rate of vaccination among teachers was a source of concern, as the Government was working to return the nation’s children to in-person classes when the new school year began in September.
At that time too, T&TUTA denied that there was vaccine hesitancy among its members.
When contacted yesterday and asked about the number of vaccinated teachers and whether unvaccinated teachers would be allowed to interact with vaccinated students, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh directed all questions to the Ministry of Education.
