Threat to transfer teachers over vaccine refusal ‘autocratic’, says Zahid

 

The education ministry should persuade unvaccinated teachers to get the Covid-19 vaccine instead of making threats, says Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

PETALING JAYA: The education ministry’s “threat” to transfer teachers who refused to get themselves vaccinated against Covid-19 reeks of autocracy and is misguided, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

The Umno president said the matter should be handled wisely and with care, adding there were ample opportunities to persuade the teachers to get vaccinated.

The education ministry, he said, should handle teachers who refuse the vaccine on a case-by-case basis, instead of taking such a broad approach.

“Threatening teachers with a transfer would inconvenience their lives and that of their families and it is autocratic and imprudent,” he said in a Facebook post tonight, adding he was troubled by the ministry’s suggestion.

He added that such threats would incur the wrath of the people towards the government.

A few days ago, education minister Radzi Jidin said teachers who refuse to be vaccinated may be transferred elsewhere if their actions affected the teaching and learning programme.

He said this was one of the solutions being mulled in the interest of students’ safety.

Zahid said the education ministry should instead emulate the Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim who met with teachers in the state to find out their reasons for refusing the vaccine.

He added that in this way the ministry could clear the air over the side-effects from getting vaccinated as well as any misconception that these teachers may have of the Covid-19 vaccines.

“There needs to be a special programme to help these teachers.” - FMT