The SA Times
By Moses Mudzwiti
9 March 2009
Zimbabwe’s month-old unity government has scored a massive coup by persuading nearly all striking teachers to return to work.
Last month David Coltart the new education minister promised schooling would be back to normal by today (Monday March 9).
Lovemore Matombo the president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions on Monday said teachers who had downed their chalk as far back as 2007 had returned.
The ZCTU president said: “There has been a high subscription of those returning.”
Pay disputes over the last few years had seen running battles between teachers and the state disrupt schooling for long periods.
“Three quarters of all teachers are back,” said Matombo.
Coltart successfully negotiated with striking teachers to report for work by the beginning of the month.
At the time teachers were demanding salaries of about 2 300 us dollars.
However, Matombo said salary negotiations were still going on and an appropriate structure would be formulated to reward different levels in the teaching profession.
Zimbabwe’s school system had collapsed under the weight of poor state funding and striking teachers. Last year the elections also contributed to major disruptions in the school system.
A good number of teachers were roped in as polling agents.
Matters came to a head early this year when the examinations’ authorities failed to produce end-of-year results for grade seven and senior secondary.
Authorities said they had no money to pay teachers to mark the crucial examinations.
Children leaving primary could not progress to secondary schools and those wanting to enter university and other tertiary colleges were stuck.
Last month Coltart met donor nations and secured enough funds to pay teachers. They have since marked some of the papers.
Matombo said he was upbeat about the positive developments in the education department.
“I am happy,” said the ZCTU president.