The Union of Professional Educators (UPE) has been left fuming at news that some independent schools are making it mandatory for educators to get vaccinated.

In a statement, the UPE said that it was “shocked” to find out of what was being imposed on educators, who were being told that it was a matter of getting jabbed or losing their jobs.

They said that certain schools were making exemptions for those educators who could not take the vaccine for health reasons, but that other schools were not even contemplating such exemptions.

“It is, to say the least, absurd that any educational institution should feel it has the right to force educators into taking a vaccine, which to date has not been declared as being mandatory by any medical institution, by threatening them that non-compliance would result in a loss of employment”, the union said.

They said that they cannot condone any “tyrannical” behaviour in which employers take the law into their own hands and go against the educators’ right to choose whether or not to be vaccinated.

“Little do they seem to care that those same people who until recently have kept their school businesses alive, and thriving, might be forced onto the brink of poverty, unless they acquiesce to doing something which is not mandated by law, and which goes against human rights”, they said.

“This attitude coming from the employers becomes even more revolting when an educator who is vulnerable and cannot take the vaccine for medical reasons, is told to either get jabbed or lose the source of income which secures their livelihood”, they continued.