TeachersforED Hold Midweek Workshops At Schools Forcing Teachers To Abandon Classes
The newly-formed Teachers for Economic Development (ED) union is reportedly holding midweek workshops at schools forcing teachers to abandon classes.
Some workshops are said to have already taken place at learning institutions in Zvishavane, Bulawayo and Marondera in recent days, according to NewsDay.
The group, seen as sympathetic to the administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is popularly known as ED, was given the nod by the government to “roll out its economic development” programmes in all schools.
It is reported that hundreds of teachers are reportedly abandoning classes to attend the workshops to avoid victimisation.
Schools are allegedly being forced to use their own funds to cater for the travel and subsistence expenses of the organisers.
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Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro defended the mid-week workshops being conducted by the Teachers for ED union saying they were “enriching” the education sector.
Ndoro said the workshops actually enriched the value of education. He said:
Teachers for Economic Development is a full-fledged teachers’ union with its own resources generated from its economic development projects; so I ask, why would a vehicle with a full tank of fuel go to a fuel station?
Some teachers’ unions are, however, concerned about the government’s selective treatment of the Teachers for ED grouping.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said any other teachers’ union would not have been allowed to mobilise teachers for workshops during the week.
He added that under the Teachers for ED programme, teachers are being promised access to government loans, promotions, and mining rights, among others, which should be accessible to any teacher.
Zimbabwe National Teachers Union chief executive officer Manuel Nyawo said the TeachersforED formation is a well-calculated plan to weaken the collective bargaining power of unions.”
