Harare- Zimbabwe teachers have lamented poor remuneration as a cause for the eroding of their dignity and called on the government to recognise them.
The calls come as they joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World Teachers’ Day.
In a statement Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) said teachers should be recognised as a formidable unit rather than being bound by the Apex Council.
“As the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ),it is our strong and fortified belief and conviction that teachers should be engaged, empowered, consulted, motivated, supported, well-remunerated, made to lead and capacitated in order to overcome the crisis at hand as well as shaping the future of our great country.
“PTUZ is on record for calling government to recognise teachers as a formidable entity, which should be engaged as a sector rather than being bundled under the legally defective, moribund, outdated and archaic Apex Council,” said PTUZ
PTUZ said the purchasing power should be restored to October 2018 where they were earning an amount equivalent to US$520.
“Restoration of the purchasing power of the teachers’ salaries as at October 2018. What the government should know is that teachers are not calling for salary increase, but restoration of their salaries that were clandestinely reduced from US$550 to the current equivalent of US$35.
“The teachers have been reduced to vagabonds by the Second Republic that promised too much, but delivered very little so far for teachers. It is our clarion call to the government to restore the value of teachers’ salaries; Prioritisation of sector specific allowances, which were once agreed upon in 2019.
“ This should also include a reasonable Covid-19 allowance that is a product of consultation, negotiations and engagement rather than the current so called benevolence gesture that is not the international best practice.” said PTUZ