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Teachers'
moot industrial action over salaries
Zimdaily.com
January 10, 2006
http://zimdaily.com/news2/article.php/20060109144545299.html
The Progressive
Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has indicated that the planned
strike against low salaries will go ahead as per schedule. Secretary
general of the union, Raymond Majongwe said consultations are at
an advanced stage before the massive industrial action is unfolded.
Majongwe said, teachers have no choice but to scuttle lessons as
schools open for the first term of 2006.
"Consultations are at a higher level, anytime from now, we are demonstrating",
said Majongwe
PTUZ, late last year demanded an 836% salary increase. Among other
things, the union also called on the government to take teachers'
issues seriously. Majongwe said, the teaching fraternity has been
polarised for long, relegated to pauper-levels with an average teacher
taking home Z$3 million.
"Teachers are now pathetic individuals in the society, we can not
let this go on", the burly Majongwe.
Teachers have in the past been duped by authorities after unfulfilled
promises of salary hikes. President Mugabe, himself, a teacher by
profession, in 2003 sarcastically said that 'teachers and nurses
will faint with the salary increases'. This was never fulfilled.
In a separate development, many parents have failed to raise the
exorbitant school fees now ranging between $4 million to $30 million
both for primary and secondary education. One Mbare parent blasted
the government for failing to fulfill its 1980s rhetoric of 'Education
For All By Year 2000'.
" This is ironic, we can no longer afford to offer our children
basic education. Their(ministers) children are overseas, thus the
reluctance in solving this problem", said Mr Samuel Bonhi of Mbare.
Education minister, Aeneas Chigwedere's reign has been dominated
with more controversy than achievements.
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