Progressive Teachers Union Of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) President, Mr Takavafira Zhou says even though students are back at school, the availability of teachers in schools is not guaranteed.
In a statement, Zhou said teachers are still incapacitated hence they will not report for work.
“Fundamentally, teachers have no money to pay fees for their own children, pay for transport costs to their respective stations, and for their upkeep up to their September pay day.
“To assume that teachers can borrow money in order to go to their respective stations whilst their own children remain confined at home is oxymoronic,” he said.
Furthermore, Zhou said the five days notice for schools re opening for exam classes has shown beyond reasonable doubt all signs of ill-preparedness.
“Contrary to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s facade of lies to the effect that schools are ready to open, the five days of school opening for exam classes has shown beyond any reasonable doubt all signs of ill-preparedness in form of no running water in schools, no covid abatement equipment in schools, no recruitment of many teachers to guarantee appropriate teacher : pupil ration, no new infrastructural development to guarantee social distance,” added Zhou.
He went on to say that schools were not ready for re opening as many has already recorded positive cases.
“As we warned, there are two schools in Manicaland where students tested positive to Covid -19, the latest being Kriste Mambo High, where 9 students tested positive out of 18 students tested on day 5 after opening.
“There are several reports of students exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms in schools, we reiterate that the conglomeration of more than 140000 teachers, more than 5 million pupils and over 80 000 ancillary staff in schools without any testing is a time bomb that can explode with disastrous consequences, “he said.
Moreover, Zhou said if the government fails to address the incapacitation of teachers there was going to be an industrial action.
“We reiterate that without a rescue package to enable incapacitated teachers to travel to their respective stations, there will be no teachers in schools.
” Teachers, therefore, have a choice either to collectively liberate themselves or entrench their immiseration, disarticulation and poverty, let alone compromise their health and safety,” said Zhou.
Teachers are advocating for a salary increase that resonates with salaries they used to earn back in 2018, that is between $520 and $550 U.S. dollars.