Teachers demand USD$550 salaries and vaccination with just over a week left before schools open
Teachers are demanding that the Government sticks to the November 2020 conditions of service agreement. The agreement conditions are that teachers are paid a minimum of USD$550 at the interbank rate and be vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of the scheduled reopening of schools.
Schools will open on the 15th of March and in ten days it seems highly unattainable that all teachers will be vaccinated when about 1300 people have been vaccinated nationwide since the inoculation process started.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) president Richard Gundani confirms the demands made by teachers. He says teachers and ancillary staff need to be vaccinated before schools reopen. The ZIMTA president also emphasises on the matter of the USD$550 salaries that they should be paid for the education system to be functional.
Teachers demand USD$550 salaries and vaccination with just over a week left before schools open
However, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Paul Mavima says that teachers should not worry and focus on opening of school as the National Joint Negotiation Council engagement is in process.
“The engagement is in process. The National Joint Negotiation Council will meet soon to discuss these issues. We are pushing Treasury to speed the process. Other issues like vaccination will be addressed through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary education,” Mavima said.
It seems all teachers’ unions are against the decision made by the Government to announce dates for the reopening of schools. The Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe said the government was supposed to engage all teachers through unions and agree on solutions to a number of issues affecting teachers.
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe spokesperson Nation Mudzitirwa also confirms that teachers are incapacitated and are demanding the 2018 salary structure and provision of Personal Protective Equipment.