Rural Schools Teachers In Zimbabwe Confront Government Over Poor Salaries

Following teachers’ disgruntlement with the government over its failure to address their welfare concerns, some schools in rural areas of Zimbabwe have failed to effectively reopen this month.

The rural teachers’ union in collaboration with Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), issued a statement Monday, stating that a high number of rural schools had failed to smoothly reopen as teachers threatened to confront the government over poor salaries.

This has left most students who spent the better part of 2020 without attending class due to Covid-19, stranded.

In its statement ARTUZ said it was angered by the government’s failure to resolve the teacher incapacitation crisis.

The teachers and other civil servants are demanding the government should also facilitate the schools to enable them adhere to the June 2020 government produced Standard Operating Procedures in the face of Covid-19.

ARTUZ added it was concerned the government has repeatedly ignored petitions from the educators.