Govt should not hoodwink teachers

AMALGAMATED Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) members have refused to be hoodwinked by President Emmerson Mnangagwa-led government’s purported review of teachers salaries.

The purported review is deceptive. Teachers like any other civil servant have been receiving the COVID-19 allowances amounting to US$75 dollars since June. Converting this allowance into real-time gross settlement (RTGS)/ bond does not change its purchase value.

Artuz remains steadfast on its demands that;

⬤ Teachers should receive the equivalent of their 2018 salaries that is US$520 per month.

⬤ Government should provide personal protective equipment for all teachers to protect against COVID-19 infections.

⬤ Schools should be sanitised and fumigated regularly.

⬤ Schools should be equipped with adequate learning materials to deliver meaningful education to pupils.

This is not asking too much from our employer. It is evident that the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe this week said a family of six now need $20 000 per month to be above the poverty datum line.

Any analysis of the variance between the poverty datum line as announced by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe and the supposed new salary scale shows that teachers are receiving nearly $8 000 realtime gross settlement short of the poverty datum line.