Teachers feed on extra lessons

Incapacitated Teachers in some parts of Harare are capitalising on extra lessons outside school premises while charging 3$USD per student.

The act has been enabling teachers to survive on their paltry salaries while the impasse between them and government continues.

Following the reopening of schools in three phases , teachers were not reporting for duty citing incapacitation, while demanding payment of salaries in USD.

A parent who spoke to Techmag.tv said , “ We have no option but, to pay for extra lessons my children have been going to school on Tuesdays and Thursday which is not enough .”

Schools were closed in March by government as measures to contain the spread of COVID19 forcing parents to take their children for the ongoing extra lessons.

A further regulation was announced which works according to a timetable were children go to school on certain days per week.

Striking teachers have capitalised on the situation charging USD$3 per student and an extra USD$1 to conduct lessons on Saturdays.

“ I am paying USD$9 per week for my children the arrangements enables our kids to learn while the teachers get something in return and I have noticed that they actually get close to 30 children.”

“ You end up paying than keeping them at home while they go to school for only two days, “ said one parent.

Prior to the reopening of schools Progressive Teachers Union Zimbabwe (PTUZ) said schools should remain closed if government does not review their salaries in USD to October 2018.

However , government went ahead and reopened schools, which triggered issuing of threats to striking teachers , offering of salary increments which they refused.

Meanwhile teachers are demanding payment to invigilate ZIMSEC exams.