Teachers Remain Defiant

Teachers have promised to remain deep-rooted on their stance to abstain from doing any work when schools fully open next Monday until government addresses their demands of a salary pegged at US$540.

Last week when government announced that schools will open on the 15th and 22nd of this month, teachers’ unions claimed that their members were incapacitated and could not report for work due to their meagre salary which could not afford them to pay school fees for their own children.

During the same week government held meetings with civil service representatives and offered a 25 percent cost of living adjustment (Cola) which they flatly turned down.

Teachers are also accusing government of selectively increasing the salaries of the uniformed forces, leaving them out, action which they apportion blame to the government as not being serious in addressing their plight.

“Learning may not happen again this term. Government is not serious about the welfare of teachers, and by extension, resumption of learning in public schools. No teaching will happen without a realistic review of the teacher remuneration. That we promise,” Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) said on their official Twitter handle.

Yesterday, teachers who are marking  the Zimbabwe School Examination Council (Zimsec) Ordinary and Advanced examinations downed tools demanding transport and subsistence allowances after the examination authority deposited $7 000 into their accounts instead of $21 000 (US$200).

Unions also warned government that if all these issues are not addressed before the 22nd of March they will embark on demonstrations in the street until their demands are met.

The officials at Ministry of Primary Secondary Education, Zimsec and all involved in managing of our public exams should hang their heads in shame. The allowances paid to our markers are pathetic but again Zimsec is failing to pay the pathetic allowances in full. Join the 22 March protest to #SaveOurEducationZW,” said the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union on their Twitter handle. Nhau/Indaba

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