While Teachers were mandated out … not so much Ministry of Education Officials

Keeping my part brief:

The Ministry of Education applied a brutal vaccine mandate to teachers (including Correspondence School staff) in late 2021. However – they decided that 41% of their own staff would not be covered by the mandate as they promised not to leave their offices.

The Teachers Council followed up school staff mandated out with a letter warning them about not complying with directives.

NZTSOS says that over 1200 educators and support staff lost their jobs, with many who did not comply leaving education forever.  In our data bases there are not only teachers and principals, but special education staff, school counsellors and school support staff.  We also have to remember that we had many who were mandated who complied under pressure and some were vax injured.

Here is a response to an OIA request on the situation.

29/08/2024

fyi-request-28084-1e925192@requests.fyi.org.nz

Tēnā koe

OIA: 1334434 – Vaccination exemptions for Ministry of Education personnel

Thank you for your email of 17 August 2024 to the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) requesting

the following information:

I would like information regarding the number of COVID vaccine exemptions that were

requested for MOE personnel and other educational organisations (Such as NZSTA, NZEI,

PPTA, NZPF), how many were successful, and how many people each successful

exemption covered.

Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).

Approximately 59% of the approximately 4,352 Ministry employees were covered under the

COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 when it was in effect. Exemptions could be applied for under clause 9 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations)

Order 2021. Seven Education-related applications were received and processed by the Ministry,

with all decisions referred to the Minister for approval. All of these applications were declined.

The other organisations listed in your request are not subject to the Act. The Ministry does not hold records relating to staff at these organisations, and this part of your request is therefore refused under section 18(g) of the Act, as the information requested is not held by the Ministry, and we have no reason to believe it is held by another department or organisation subject to the Act.

Thank you again for your email. You have the right to ask an Ombudsman to review my decision

on your request, in accordance with section 28 of the Act. You can do this by writing to

info@ombudsman.parliament.nz or to Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.

Nāku noa, nā

Emma Drysdale

Manager Official and Parliamentary Information

The OIA request was from an outstanding former Principal who was mandated out. She followed up with this.

“I received some of the additional information I requested in the OIA request today.  41% “didn’t need” to apply for an exemption, because they claim they ‘didn’t leave their offices’.  Funny, how they were allowed to do that, yet I couldn’t use that excuse to ‘stay in my office’ AND worse got terminated for my non compliance!!! None of them got terminated!  Double standards evidenced again! “

Alwyn Poole
alwyn.poole@gmail.com
Innovative Education Consultants Ltd
Education 710+ Ltd
(both sites currently being re-done)
alwynpoole.substack.com
www.linkedin.com/in/alwyn-poole-16b02151/