By Dr Takavafira Zhou
The recent utterances by the Hon Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Cain Matema, that there has been consultations with teacher unions and an agreed position to open schools is a figment of his own imagination. The truth is that the Ministry has not yet consulted any teachers’ organisation. This Agenda setting and trajectory of lies is not expected from a Minister and the sooner the Minister sobers up, the better.
As teachers, we reiterate our readiness to open schools any day, but subject to broad engagement of stakeholders, particularly teachers and parents, prioritisation of teachers’ welfare, health and safety. Any shortcut will generate industrial disharmony that may militate against successful opening of schools.
We reiterate our call for meaningful social dialogue to enhance industrial harmony and productivity. Lies have short legs and we urge both the Ministry and PSC to expedite the restoration of purchasing power parity of teachers’ salaries, and cogent contigent measures to combat covid 19 pandemic in schools.
Teachers’ commitment to duty can never be doubted. They have done so much with so little. But they are human beings susceptible to covid 19. They are also parents with family responsibilities. They are workers and not slaves. As managers of the world’s best asset, viz, pupils, they must be treated well in order to be dynamic, innovative, industrious, enthusiastic and judicious in their work. Never in history should we entrust the future of pupils into the hands of miserable, poor and dejected teachers.
Venceremos
Dr Takavafira M. Zhou (Ptuz President
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