News Day
By Wonai Masvingise
7 May 2013
EDUCATION minister David Coltart has thanked teachers for their dedication to work despite poor remuneration.
Teachers and civil servants in Zimbabwe are among the poorest paid in the region earning an average of $250 which is below the poverty datum line (PDL) recorded in January as standing at $519.
In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, the Education minister thanked teachers, who resume work today after a month-long school holiday, for their perseverance even though they were not paid enough to sustain their families.
“I thank teachers for their dedication and commitment. I am aware of the difficult working conditions that they have to work under and I want to reassure them that I am doing everything possible to address those concerns,†Coltart said.
Coltart expressed concern over the issue of some headmasters who were refusing to accept examination fees from some pupils.
“I had a few complaints against headmasters who were refusing to accept payment for examination fees at some schools. No child should be kept from writing exams and I hope those headmasters will heed this warning,†he said.
In a survey done by NewsDay yesterday, fees at most government schools had not changed, but a few schools in urban areas had slightly revised their fees upwards this term.
Most parents interviewed by NewsDay around Harare said fees at most government schools had not changed from the previous term.
Muchaneta Shumba, who was buying uniforms for her daughter in Grade 5 at Kuwadzana 4 Primary School, said fees had not gone up at her child’s school.
“We paid $50 for fees last term and they have asked for $50 again this term, school fees have not gone up,†Shumba said.
Tariro Hove, another parent with a child at Neuso High School in Sanyati, said the school had not changed fees from last term.
“We paid $35 in school fees last term and this term we are also paying the same. It hasn’t changed,†Hove said.
Samuel Moyo, a parent with a Grade 1 pupil at Fitchlea Primary School in Kwekwe, said fees at the school had gone up by $30.
“We approved a school fees increase late last term so that we can have more resources to develop the school since no aid is coming from government,†Moyo said.