(Last Updated on April 12, 2021 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – Opposition MDC-T senator Tichinani Matevera last week said teachers who are not reporting for duty should resign and allow those unemployed and qualified to take up the openings if they cannot accept government’s offer.
Matevera made the remarks when he was querying Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa on government’s position on the teachers who have declared incapacitation and recently announced that they will be reporting for work three times a week only.
“Mr President, teachers are now striking or giving threats. My question is: if government is negotiating with the representatives of workers, are they open to each other because right now people are tired in the country?
“There are endless talks between the government and the teachers. If they cannot accept what is being given by the government, they must retire and leave an opportunity for qualified teachers who are not practising,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the minister of Education, Mutsvangwa said the government was still committed to ensuring that teachers are paid and that the sector is not disrupted so that learners can continue learning.
Last year, teachers declared incapacitation citing that their salaries had been seriously eroded by inflation.
They are demanding the restoration of their salaries to pre-October 2018 levels when the lowest teacher was receiving at least US$520 per month.