Teachers' unions demand preferential treatment for educators in COVID-19 testing procedures
In a joint email, the German Teachers' Association (DL), the Association for Education and Education (VBE), and the Education and Science Union (GEW) have expressed their concern over the current situation in schools, with increasing infection numbers and high levels of teacher absenteeism.
Heinz-Peter Meidinger, DL chairman, reported a significant increase in infection numbers in schools, with a doubling of infection numbers on a weekly basis. This surge has led to some schools exceeding the critical value of more than 20 percent sickness absence in a teaching staff.
Udo Beckmann, VBE chairman, shared his dismay and incomprehension, stating that teachers are doing their best to provide education and care for children under the given circumstances. However, teachers are not prioritized for PCR tests despite increased infections in schools. This is mainly due to policy decisions around testing resources and cost constraints, according to sources.
Free rapid COVID-19 tests were limited starting mid-2022 due to the high financial burden on the government, which was about one billion euros per month. This led to the cessation of many free test centers and a general reduction in testing availability, impacting priority groups including teachers.
The unions have criticized this approach, as increased infection rates in schools warrant prioritizing teachers for PCR tests. However, regulatory decisions aimed at ending fraud and reducing costs seem to have deprioritized testing access for teachers.
Maike Finnert, GEW chairwoman, stated that many colleagues are highly stressed and that there is a lot of uncertainty and endless frustration over the poor crisis management of politics and cultural administration. The email reinforces the unions' stance on the need for political action to protect the health of teachers and improve the current crisis management.
The unions are demanding prioritization of teachers in PCR tests, expecting politics to protect the health of teachers. The email does not provide any new information about the statements made by Heinz-Peter Meidinger, Udo Beckmann, or Maike Finnert, nor does it contain any advertisements.
Read also:
- Inherent Skills Know No Bounds, Yet Access to Employment Remains Unequal: Suggestions for a More Equitable Job Market of the Future
- Affordable supermarket purchases from dollar stores are not sabotaging typical American nutritional habits, according to research findings
- Harnessing Crowdsourced Research for the Preservation of Australia's Enchanting Wildlife Species via SeadragonSearch
- Supporting urban advancement
