…as parents groan
under prohibitive increments
under prohibitive increments
TellZim Reporter
President
Emmerson Mnangagwa has proven to be out of touch with reality on the ground as
he professed ignorance over the steep fees increments affected by the majority
of public schools across the country, a move likely to see a growing number of
school dropouts.
Emmerson Mnangagwa has proven to be out of touch with reality on the ground as
he professed ignorance over the steep fees increments affected by the majority
of public schools across the country, a move likely to see a growing number of
school dropouts.
Addressing the
public after a clean-up campaign in Kuwadzana 2 in Harare last week, President
Mnangagwa said that he is unaware of the school fees increments by schools and
reads from the newspapers that there is no such thing.
public after a clean-up campaign in Kuwadzana 2 in Harare last week, President
Mnangagwa said that he is unaware of the school fees increments by schools and
reads from the newspapers that there is no such thing.
President
Mnangagwa said that his education minister is always in the newspapers saying
the fees have not been increased but the reality on the ground shows that the
majority of public schools have made education a preserve for the elite.
Mnangagwa said that his education minister is always in the newspapers saying
the fees have not been increased but the reality on the ground shows that the
majority of public schools have made education a preserve for the elite.
It costs parents
pound and flesh to send their pupils to Form One as most schools are giving
cover charge of uniforms and tuition to the tune ranging from $8 000 to $11
000.
pound and flesh to send their pupils to Form One as most schools are giving
cover charge of uniforms and tuition to the tune ranging from $8 000 to $11
000.
The country’s
universities have also joined the band wagon by increasing their fees to
unimaginable heights.
universities have also joined the band wagon by increasing their fees to
unimaginable heights.
Teachers, who
are also parents, say that they are not reporting for work when first term
opens because their salaries are peanuts and cannot even buy a set of uniforms
for their children, let alone pay for tuition.
are also parents, say that they are not reporting for work when first term
opens because their salaries are peanuts and cannot even buy a set of uniforms
for their children, let alone pay for tuition.
Progressive
Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Dr Takavafira Zhou said that they
are not reporting for work unless their demands are met.
Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Dr Takavafira Zhou said that they
are not reporting for work unless their demands are met.
“We agreed we
would not be reporting for work until we get salary increments that resonate
with the prevailing situation in the economy.
would not be reporting for work until we get salary increments that resonate
with the prevailing situation in the economy.
“Our present
salaries are not even enough for us to travel to our work stations so how does
the government expect us to survive. Right now schools have increased their
fees to unimaginable amount and we wonder where parents will get that money
from.
salaries are not even enough for us to travel to our work stations so how does
the government expect us to survive. Right now schools have increased their
fees to unimaginable amount and we wonder where parents will get that money
from.
“Everything else
is going through and increment phase except our salaries. I will not teach a a
school whose fees i am not able to pay,” said Dr Zhou.
is going through and increment phase except our salaries. I will not teach a a
school whose fees i am not able to pay,” said Dr Zhou.
The Amalgamated
Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masararure said that
schools are now a preserve for the elites and a no go area for the poor.
Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masararure said that
schools are now a preserve for the elites and a no go area for the poor.
Masararure
warned the government that it risks mass protests as most of the basic things
are becoming unattainable.
warned the government that it risks mass protests as most of the basic things
are becoming unattainable.
“Schools are now
a preserve for the elites, a no go area for the poor, just like meat. Social
services such as education, healthcare, water are non-negotiable.
a preserve for the elites, a no go area for the poor, just like meat. Social
services such as education, healthcare, water are non-negotiable.
“A government
which denies its people basics will be inciting protests,” said Masaraure.
which denies its people basics will be inciting protests,” said Masaraure.
