Question NW1482 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

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26 May 2022 - NW1482

Profile picture: King, Ms C

King, Ms C to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Whether Higher Health has released the regulations on COVID-19 protocol in the Post School Education and Training sector, considering the forced mandatory vaccination policy of some institutions; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

HIGHER HEALTH, with support from its Technical Scientific Team, the Department of Health and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), has developed a comprehensive and clear set of PSET guidelines and protocols on managing COVID-19 in the sector which were formally released by the Minister of Higher Education, Training, Science and Innovation since 30 April 2020.  One of these guidelines is the GUIDELINE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES ON COVID-19 VACCINE IN THE POST-SCHOOL EDUCATION AND TRAINING SECTOR that can be followed in producing institution-specific vaccine policies.  This guideline has been produced after extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders in the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector, including Universities South Africa, the South African Public Colleges Organisation, Community Education and Training (CET) College management, student bodies and student leadership, labour unions, public health experts and the HIGHER HEALTH Scientific Technical Task Team.

The guideline has been presented to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.  The Minister referred the guideline to the COVID-19 Ministerial Task Team led by the Deputy Minister and comprise all stakeholders including unions and student formations.  The guideline is currently still under consultation with various stakeholders and has not been released in the PSET sector.  

At this stage the Department does not promote mandatory vaccine policies in institutions.

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