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ZCTU joins the world in commemorating World Teachers' Day
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
October 05, 2008

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) joins the rest of the teaching fraternity, and particularly it affiliate, the progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) in commemorating Teacher's Day.

The Day is being celebrated when the crisis in the education sector has reached unprecedented proportions as noted by the PTUZ:

• Presently, teachers in Zimbabwe are on strike, the classes are empty. The government makes a mockery of teachers' salaries. They are so low that the salaries cannot take them home for a month.
• Due to political disturbances, learning programmes have been disrupted on several occasions. Several teachers were forced to attend rallies during working hours, others were energy sapped as a result of attending all night vigils, thousands were displaced and others maimed and killed from politically motivated beatings. The few who braved to remain at schools were too traumatized to meaningfully attend to students.
• In the aftermath of the run-off elections violence and unspecified disciplinary action targeting those who had run away from political hot beds forced many to stay away from schools for the greater part of the second term of 2008.
• Several students had no teacher in at least one subject due to the massive teacher exodus which accelerated in 2008. Replacements have been difficult to come by as the sector is even failing to attract untrained or relief teachers. Currently each school has an average of 60% untrained teachers.
• The nation over, several students face mass starvation
• Teachers are spending several hours queuing for money at the banks
• The teaching profession, that was once a revered profession has become a laughing stock.

As we celebrate this important day, the ZCTU is surprised that parents are keeping quiet when lives and the future of their children is being violated. It is time parents stand up and support teachers for the good of their children. And it is also time the profession takes back its glitt.

Visit the ZCTU fact sheet

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