ZimDiaspora.com
By Correspondent
11the September 2009
Desperates parents at some schools in Zimbabwe’s second largest city Bulawayo have resolved to give teachers “incentives” so that they conduct lessons as the strike called by the Zimbabwe Teachers Association continues.
The teachers’ strike which comes barely a week after The Zim Diaspora revealed that Mr Mugabe was paying “green bombers” wages equivalent to those of teachers and nurses. The unending strike has crippled the country’s education system which at some point was arguably the best in the African continent..
Worried that the strike was negatively affecting their children, especially those sitting for public examinations which start next month, some parents through the School Development Associations and Parent Teachers Associations have come up with incentives to enable teachers to conduct lessons.
Parents at schools such as Henry Low Primary School, Kumalo Primary School, Robert Tredgold Primary School and Hillside Junior School are either giving cash incentives or groceries to teachers to urge them to report for duty.
Teachers at Kumalo Primary School have not been teaching since Zimta called for a strike at the beginning of the term, but the parents held a meeting with them yesterday and urged them to return to work, promising to pay a US$6 incentive per child per month.
The money will go towards “cushioning” teachers.
“We agreed that the teachers should report to work on Friday so that lessons resume,” said a parent who attended the meeting.
At Henry Low Primary School in Greenhill some well-wishers are giving teachers groceries, as a way of cushioning them.
The school was not affected by last year’s strike and has also not been affected this term after parents intervened to ensure that their children got education.
Most schools in the high-density suburbs are not conducting lessons although church-run schools such as St Colombas High School and St Patrick’s Primary School in Makokoba are running smoothly after teachers and parents reached an understanding.
Teachers at Inzwananzi Primary School in Luveve are also reporting for duty as they are getting incentives from parents.
There are no lessons being conducted at a majority of schools in high-density suburbs, as teachers are not reporting for duty.
Some teachers are also reportedly demanding money from pupils so that they conduct lessons.
A number of teachers have resorted to holding private lessons at their homes where they are making a killing from desperate pupils especially those writing their Ordinary Levels and Advanced Levels this year.
Most of the pupils are not adequately prepared because teachers spent the better part of last year on strike.
The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart is on record saying parents can give incentives to teachers through the School Development Associations although they are not allowed to demand incentives from parents.