Bulawayo parents of some school-going children who are not learning after teachers embarked on a nationwide strike citing incapacitation have reportedly offered to contribute towards the teachers’ upkeep so that they may teach their children, New Zimbabwe reports.
Parents of pupils from Bulawayo’s low-density suburbs have reportedly offered to each pay $20 towards the upkeep of the teachers.
This was revealed by The Patriot Front youth wing education and training secretary, Roselyn Luciano who told the publication that:
The parents are also not being spared in this situation because after paying school fees, they now have to part ways with some more money as most of them are not opting to get their children private tutors. This comes heavy on parents some of whom have been retrenched or had their salaries cut because of the impact of Covid-19,
Teachers have not been reporting for duty since schools reopened for the writing classes on 28 September 2020 as they are demanding a salary equivalent to $520.
The government has said for now they can’t match their demand and have also threatened to replace sticking teachers with 25 000 unemployed teachers, The President while addressing a meeting in Mutare also threatened the teachers with non-payment of salaries and said the striking teachers cannot hold the government at ransom.
More: New Zimbabwe
Its now education for the rich and ellite just like during the colonial era. So where is the independence we fought for? The gvt should just pay teachers a living wage not to take us back to days of slavery where workers where not paid for their labour. A teacher is now an embarrasment in the eyes of society when he is supposed to be an inspiration to our children. Gvt, give an ear to the plight of your people. Why should you all be so ruthless up there?