Before the opening of schools, teachers’ unions affirmed that teachers would not be returning to schools until their pay was reconsidered.This was said to be a move to protest against the poor working conditions and low wages promised to teachers. The bold stand was to take place in spite of government reportedly stating that no turn up would result in no pay.
Fast forward to the resuming of non-exam classes. The teacher turnout was surprisingly high. Information ministry permanent secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana confirmed this development on his Twitter handle, saying:
Zimbabwe’s schools reopened on Monday for non-examination classes with teachers reporting for duty in large numbers while there were few students at most schools.
Gabriel Mhumha, Mashonaland West provincial education director, confirmed the high teacher turnout rate that took place notwithstanding previous statements by teachers’ unions stating that their teachers were incapacitated to report for duty. He shared the following remarks:
Today, we witnessed more teachers reporting for work than students reporting for school. The teachers’ percentage turnout was around 90%-100%, while students’ turnout was around 70%-95%.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure told NewsDay that despite this news of high teacher turnout rates, over 90% of teachers had heeded the call to strike. He said:
We have embarked on a nationwide protest under the banner #SaveOurEducation. We are demanding that the government resolves the incapacitation of teachers as our salaries should be restored to pre-October 2018 levels, where we were earning salaries ranging between US$520 and US$550.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said they were behind ARTUZ’s stance and called for dialogue between the government and teachers.
Zimbabwe Rural Teachers Union (ZRTU) national co-ordinator Wonder Nyapokoto supported this stance and went as far as to add that the teachers are indeed financially incapacitated and can only go to work once a week.
These convoluted sentiments proved a disunity among the various teachers and the Unions that represent them. Mangwana shared these sentiments in a tweet that read:
Teacher turnout in schools yesterday proved that certain unions comprise a few activists and do not represent the interests of teachers. We are all products of the noble teaching profession and applaud those who push learners future ahead of their narrow political interests.
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