Everyone - government, parents, students, and educators - wants schools and universities to function normally. Remote learning is useful, but it cannot offer what live education in the classroom provides. But this must happen without risking students or pupils becoming ill because of those who refuse to be vaccinated.

Of course, the overwhelming majority of educators have been vaccinated. However, there are also some who refuse to be vaccinated. That is their right. After all, there are small minorities of unvaccinated people in every profession. But educators are public servants and serve as examples for their students. Therefore, their right gives way to their duty. And as public servants, they are required to be vaccinated.

The government has repeatedly called on everyone to get vaccinated, and above all those who come into contact with citizens: healthcare workers, educators, tourism and hospitality professionals, and others.

As for educators, when the school year begins, they are required to present a vaccination certificate. But what happens to those who refuse to be vaccinated? In order to deal with possible problems from those who refuse vaccination, the government introduced a legal provision in good time, which states the following:

If permanent or fixed-term contract teachers do not present a vaccination certificate, proof of recovery, or a negative diagnostic test, they are not allowed to enter the school units where they work, and the following consequences apply:

For permanent teachers, by decision of the director of education, and by way of exception to any other general or special provision, the special administrative measure of suspension from duties is imposed for compelling reasons of public health protection. During the suspension period, which is not counted as time of actual public service, salary is not paid. By the same decision, the suspension is lifted if a vaccination certificate, proof of recovery, or a negative diagnostic test is presented.

The same provision applies to substitute and hourly-paid teachers.

In general, everyone has the right to be vaccinated or not, with the exception of public servants. But everyone is obliged to comply with the law. In this case, everyone is required by their conduct not to pose a risk to public health. Therefore, if someone does not want to be vaccinated, they are required to undergo the prescribed tests, which they will pay for themselves. This should apply to everyone, and certainly to educators.

OLME is asking for the tests of unvaccinated teachers to be paid by the state. SYRIZA in Parliament also supported OLME's proposal. Can OLME and SYRIZA explain why the tests of teachers who refuse to be vaccinated should be paid for by the state? In the end, is SYRIZA in favor of vaccination or in favor of unvaccinated teachers?

Can OLME support unvaccinated teachers? Can a teacher care only about himself and ignore others, and above all his students?

The government found the golden mean. On the one hand, it protects public health; on the other hand, it respects the right not to be vaccinated. Democracy respects the rights of citizens and is tolerant of different minorities.

However, every citizen must know that every right is linked to a corresponding duty. Just as one has the right not to be vaccinated, one also has the duty to be vaccinated for reasons of public health. And when two rights collide - the individual right not to be vaccinated and the public right to health - a hierarchy must be established. The greater value comes first, prevails, and must be protected over the other.

Everyone, or almost everyone, agrees that the protection of public health takes precedence over the right not to be vaccinated. For that reason, all citizens, and above all all education professionals, are required to be vaccinated for reasons of public health. That is what the values of society demand. That is what the laws of the state say as well.

Paul Marantos

marantosp@gmail.com