Post-cabinet briefing
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), on Tuesday, said whatever the government decides today on the reopening of schools for the second term is neither here nor there.
ARTUZ said the government should, first of all, ensure that schools are safe for teachers and learners and also pay teachers decent salaries before the new term starts. ARTUZ said:
Whatever Cabinet resolves today with regards to schools opening is inconsequential.
Schools are not ready to open because safety in face of COVID-19 has not been resolved and teachers remain incapacitated.
To save our education, we should confront the government to address these two issues.
ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure said Cabinet should not “waste” time discussing the reopening of schools without first ensuring schools are capacitated to adhere to Standard Operating Procedures.
Masaraure also demanded the restoration of teachers’ salaries to pre-October 2018 levels when they earned at least US$500 per month. He said:
This cabinet should not waste our time discussing schools opening. They should just facilitate safe and effective schools opening.
Pay teachers pre-October 2018 salaries and capacitate schools to adhere to Standard Operating Procedures. It is so basic.
This comes after the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said it expects to get a directive from Cabinet today on when schools will reopen.
In an interview with State media on Monday, Primary and Secondary Education Ministry communications and advocacy director Taungana Ndoro said:
Let’s wait for Cabinet meeting tomorrow. It (Cabinet) is expected to guide us on when schools shall reopen.
