Sixty-four more teachers will lose their jobs this week stemming from their refusal to be vaccinated, taking the total number of teachers whose contracts have been terminated under the ‘No Jab No Job’ policy to 194.
Minister for Education Premila Kumar said the 64 teachers confirmed in writing that they will not get vaccinated.
An additional 150 teachers are likely to follow suit if they do not acquire their exemption certificates from the Ministry of Health in time for the start of school.
Thirty teachers who taught years 12 and 13 were among the unvaccinated groups whose contracts have been terminated. The ministry has replaced 24 teachers, with six more to be roped in next week. A further 65 teachers who teach the same cohort are stranded – 35 in Viti Levu to return to schools in Vanua Levu and 30 to move from Vanua Levu to Viti Levu.
“These teachers are now preparing to return to their destination to complete their home quarantine requirements before the schools reopen,” Kumar said.
To date, 7,622 teachers are fully vaccinated, while 5110 have had their first jab.
