Zimdaily.com
2 May 2010
By Sarah Ncube
ZIMBABWE – HARARE – Schools open Tuesday with divisions among teachers’ unions on the course of action to take following conflicting statements over salary increments.
ZANU-PF aligned Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association has urged its members to report for duty when schools open while the more respected — the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe and the Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe — have called for class boycotts.
A fortnight ago Minister Biti announced a salary freeze for all civil servants saying Government did not have adequate resources for any adjustments while PM Tsvangirai told workers during May Day celebrations at the weekend that Government had not yet taken a position on the issue.
However, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart implored the disgruntled teachers not to be disheartened by the salary freeze saying Government and other stakeholders were looking at the challenges facing teachers.
“I would want to encourage teachers to report for duty for the benefit of the students and the country’s education sector. Their (teachers) welfare is under review as we have tabled a number of strategies in Cabinet to address the challenges of rural and urban teachers,†he said.
He, however, would not disclose the details of the strategies. Zimta president Mrs Tendai Chikowore said teachers should attend classes while waiting for feedback from two inter-ministerial committees set up to look at the welfare of civil servants in two weeks’ time.
“Teachers should report for duty until we hear Government’s response on our petitions and the feedback from the committees.
“We expect that to be done by the 15th of this month at an all stakeholders workshop where we
expect all civil servants’ negotiators and Government representatives to be present.
“Whether teachers would take up classes or not on Tuesday it is something else, we are just
encouraging them to report for duty only,†she said.
Cabinet recently set up two inter-ministerial committees to mobilise resources and find ways to cushion workers on utility bills.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe president Mr Takavafira Zhou said civil servants should reject the salary freeze as they were failing to make ends meet.
“If he (Biti) freezes our salaries then he should also freeze prices of commodities to cushion the workers. We are just disturbed by this move and we do not know what the future holds for us,†he said.
Meanwhile, Minister Coltart said Government had maintained its fees structure for the second term while payment of incentives to teachers by parents would continue until Government is able to pay them viable salaries.
He, however, warned school authorities not to extort money from parents.
“Incentives should be gazetted at a properly constituted school meeting involving parents. School heads should not declare the amount to parents, as it will be a criminal offence.
“They must be guided by the procedures we have stated in the past,†he said.
Parents with children in primary schools in high-density suburbs would continue paying US$5 while those in secondary have to part with US$10.
Pupils in primary schools in low-density suburbs will pay US$10 and those at secondary US$20.
Last term teachers and other civil servants downed tools to press for higher salaries and improved working conditions.
This was after Government had awarded them a modest 10 percent increment, which the Government workers’ unions said was inadequate.
Teachers and other civil servants earn an average of US$160 per month but are calling for a minimum salary of US$630.