By Staff Writer
ANOTHER fresh salaries crisis is ensuing following the placement of a US$1 200 salary demand by teachers this week.
Speaking during the meeting with the minister, Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Union of Zimbabwe (FOZEU) president, Akuneni Maphosa, said the educators were wallowing in poverty.
“Let’s see the ministry lobbying and promoting that its employees are taken seriously, and their welfare be looked after,” Maphosa said.
“The economic issues have also led to a distorted salary structure where senior grades now find themselves being remunerated comparatively lower than their juniors.”
“The currency instability and low salaries are a pain in the neck. This has led to situations where teachers’ wages are not enough to meet their basic needs, leading to a decline in moral and professional satisfaction.”
Maphosa said morale among educators had hit rock bottom.
“The case in point is the inspectorate rate. This has affected morale and lowered professional purpose for such officers,” he said.
“The ongoing job evaluation exercise in the civil service, while welcome, is shrouded and has fallen short of extensive consultation likely to affect its credibility.”
FOZEU secretary-general, Obert Masaraure, insisted that the government should fully fund basic education as prescribed under Section 75 of the constitution.
“The amendment reinforces that this state funded education is not optional but is compulsory. It makes it an offence for any parent to keep a child away from school. The offence can attract a jail term of up to 2 years,” he said.
Masaraure said the Basic Education Assistance Model (Beam) programme was failing its beneficiaries who include orphans.
“The doubling of Beam beneficiaries in 2023 has created a lot of challenges to financing of school activities. This is because of the late disbursements of Beam funds to schools by the government,” Masaraure said.
