Sunday Mail
By Tafadzwa Chiremba and Fortunate Jaravaza
13th September 2009
MORE than 1 400 teachers who heeded the Government’s call for professionals living in the Diaspora to return home and resume duties are having second thoughts about their decision after going for the past six months without pay.
It emerged last week that although the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture had initially assured them of a smooth return, bureaucratic bottlenecks are impeding their reintegration into the country’s education system.
Some of the teachers are reportedly facing disciplinary action for discontinuing duties without notifying the relevant authorities while others are supposed to re-apply before being formally readmitted.
In an interview last week, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart, said his ministry was experiencing administrative problems because of the massive staff exodus.
He said Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) were exploring ways of securing the returning teachers’ salaries.
“We are engaged in talks with a view to sourcing funds. “It is a matter of extreme urgency,†he said.
In March this year, Government announced an amnesty for teachers who migrated to other countries, saying they would be allowed to take their jobs back if they returned home.
More than 1 935 responded, but only 438 of them have been formally reinstated and are receiving salaries.
Those yet to be confirmed are expected to produce three application letters, three academic certificates, three copies of curriculum vitae and six testimonial letters from people outside the education sector.
In a letter to Senator Coltart recently, Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe indicated that the readmission procedure was too stringent.
“Why would one be compelled to bring copies of all such documents when they have only been absent from duty for a few months?†he said.
“We strongly feel that some of these unnecessary, laborious and misplaced requirements should be done away with. The matter begs for urgent intervention on your part.â€
In an interview last week, Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) secretary-general Mr Richard Gundane called on Government to waive the readmission conditions.
“We sympathise with the teachers who returned. These teachers were forced out of a system they wanted to continue serving, hence the disciplinary procedures should be relaxed,†he said.
Senator Coltart said less than half of the returning teachers were cleared because his ministry was experiencing administrative problems.
He said the exercise is, however, expected to be completed by December 31 this year.