Teachers have called on the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube to make sure that the 2022 national budget yet to be presented will involve salaries in USD starting January 2022.
Speaking during a telephone interview Netsai Gure a teacher at a local school in Gweru said the budget must cater for the educators’ continuous concerns.
“The first thing that needs to be addressed is the restoration of the 2018 salary to USD540 for a Grade D level teacher, the teachers’ working conditions and allowances is also something that needs to be looked at in this budget.
“With the new curriculum we are overloaded with work that is not even equal to the salaries that we are paid, we want budget to put aside USD salaries for teachers in 2022,” she said.
Lovejoy Mapatsa a teacher in Harare said the budget must address the issue of currency that is being used in Zimbabwe.
“We should move away from RTGS to USD because RTGS has been going down losing its value so the only way for teachers to have a decent life is only if their salaries are in USD.
“It’s a good move that they gave us bonuses in USD they should maintain the USD currency,” he said.
Mr. Charles Hodzi who is also a teacher said the education sector must be given adequate funding to cater for the different educational aspects and Continuous Assessment Learning Activity (CALA).
“As a country we saw that we lag behind in terms of online learning especially those in marginalised areas, there are lots of schools that do not have proper infrastructure which is an issue that needs to be looked at,” he said.
Conditions of service and salaries for civil servants became topical at the ZIMTA Ehlekweni meeting held on 6 November 2021 in Matobo which resulted in the issuing of a ZIMTA Ehlekweni Vocational lnstitute (ZEVI) Matobo-Declaration of 6 November 2021 where Teachers declared that it will be USD Bonuses or nothing for them.
