4,500 teachers quit since January
By Tererai Karimakwenda
07 May, 2008

The Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) reports that at least 4,500 teachers have resigned from their jobs since January this year citing poor salaries and working conditions. PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said this is very disturbing because we are losing vital people who are supposed to be spearheading education in the country. He added that at the moment enough new teachers were being produced to replace them, but we were reaching a point where there would not be enough for “internal consumption.”

Teachers are demanding a 650% salary increase, to bring their salaries from a minimum of Z$500,000 to Z$4 million starting this month. These demands were submitted to the Public Service Commission last week. Asked if the government had enough money to facilitate such huge increases Majongwe said: “We want to present an argument that says how much is enough for a teacher and his or her family to survive. And if that figure is 50 million then so be it. It is not our business to go and ask how much money is in the coffers of the country because we have never been told how much there is.”

Teachers’ salaries were increased by government in March, but those gains are already meaningless due to hyperinflation. In the past the PTUZ and the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) have acted independently of each other, but the current crisis has given them common ground. Majongwe said when ZIMTA president Tendai Chikowore speaks, she is also speaking for the PTUZ because they cooperated on a position paper and their demands were submitted together.

Majongwe said teachers would be in the classroom when schools open this week because they are concerned about the children getting educated. But he warned that they were ready to embark on collective job action should the government not respect their needs.

Most teachers who have eft have gone to seek greener pastures in neighbouring countries. Last year’s survey revealed that 5,000 teachers had left the country in 12 months. In 2007 it’s taken just 4 months to reach that amount.