In Zimbabwe, schools, colleges and colleges did not open their doors on Monday 28 September after a six-month closure in connection with the Covid epidemic. The eight teachers’ associations in the country have launched an unlimited strike movement. They condemn the write-off of their salaries, but also the lack of funds and equipment to protect themselves from the pandemic.
Hundreds of schools remained empty Monday after the call from the eight teachers’ associations in the country. For several months, they have been asking for a revaluation of their salaries paid in local currency, which is now only equivalent to $ 40. An insult, according to Raymond Majongwe, general secretary of Zimbabwe’s Progressive Teachers Union. “Two years ago we earned the equivalent of $ 550, today we are between 30 and 40. This is unacceptable and shows that the government does not respect its teachers. Just like in the Mugabe era, he sees us as the enemies of the state. ”
Teachers cannot feed their families, let alone pay school fees for their children.
Robson Chere, Secretary General of the Teachers’ Association, Artuz
Unicef calls
The problem is that the local currency – reintroduced last year – has literally collapsed in recent months. As a result, “Public teachers can not even afford to go to work anymore,” said Robson Chere of the Zimbabwe Rural Teachers Union. With $ 30, you can not even cover your transportation costs to and from work. It costs two dollars return trip a day. A piece of bread costs $ 1. Teachers cannot feed their families, let alone pay tuition for their children. ”
According to these unions, 5.6 million primary and secondary school children are affected by this strike. They are asking that exams scheduled for December be suspended as the children have only had three months of school this year due to the coronavirus epidemic.
The United Nations Children’s Agency, Unicef, has called for the reopening of schools so that children can return to school.
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