The formal COVID-19 vaccination process of the higher education and training (or PSET) sector will commence tomorrow. The last big sector will now at last be eligible to receive the jab. SAPTU (South African Parastatal and Tertiary Institutions Union) welcomes this announcement.
The Post School Education and Training (PSET) sector comprise of public universities, TVET and Community Education and Training (CET) colleges, private institutions, skills learning sector, Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), National Skills Fund (NSF) with a range of skills development providers.
The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, announced that the department developed a comprehensive vaccination strategy for the sector aligned with the Department of Health’s national vaccination rollout plan.
“Even though higher education institutions continued with classes online, face to face learning is invaluable, and we are glad that our members will now have more protection against the devastating coronavirus,” says Adv Ben van der Walt, the general secretary of SAPTU. “The academic staff, as well as support staff at tertiary institutions, deliver a crucial service to the future of South Africa.”
Even though the community had been using tertiary sites as vaccination centres, the department confirmed that these sites would be dedicated to members of the sector to speed up the process during the PSET rollout. As a result, the department estimates that between 100 and 500 persons per hour will receive their injection in this manner.
“We are impressed by the planning that went into the vaccination plan for the PSET sector,” says Adv Van der Walt. “We are hopeful that the implementation will also proceed without any major disruptions. SAPTU would once again like to encourage members to consider the health of colleagues in decisions over the vaccine.”
Issued by: SAPTU
Date: 23 July 2021
Enquiries: Adv Ben van der Walt, General Secretary SAPTU Cell.: 083 260 8548