In their letter, the authors point out that education plays a crucial role in society. In the coronavirus policy, education staff are therefore designated as people who perform a vital profession. Because education has been designated as a vital sector, they write, special testing centres were set up in the autumn to test education staff as a priority. And in the current lockdown, large groups of education staff are being called upon to continue providing in-person education, for example in secondary special education, practical and vocational education, and examination classes in secondary education. Vulnerable pupils and students are also being accommodated in primary and secondary education and in secondary vocational education.
The authors therefore believe that it is now logical and desirable to include education staff in the vaccination schedule. Not only because education is a vital sector, but also because it is difficult to consistently maintain the required distance between teachers and pupils/students in a group with many pupils/students in a relatively small space. For teachers who teach practical subjects, this is often even impossible. As a result, education staff face a higher-than-average risk of contracting COVID-19. In view of the great social importance of education and the above-average risk of infection, they are asking the government to include education staff in the vaccination strategy and to clarify when this group will be eligible for vaccination.
The letter was signed by the General Education Union (AOb), the General Association of School Leaders (AVS), the PO-Raad, CNV, the VO-raad, the MBO-Raad, the Federation of Education Trade Unions (FvOv), the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (VH), the Association of Universities (VSNU), the National Expertise Centre for Special Education (LECSO), the Practical Education Sector Council (Sectorraad PrO), Parents and Education, and the Foundation of VMBO Platforms.