…we will not be silenced
Upenyu
Chaota
Chaota
The mooted Teaching Profession
Council Bill which would give birth to the Teaching Profession Council (TPC)
has been resisted by the Progressive Teachers’ Union (PTUZ) which sees the move
a dangerous experiment with educators.
Council Bill which would give birth to the Teaching Profession Council (TPC)
has been resisted by the Progressive Teachers’ Union (PTUZ) which sees the move
a dangerous experiment with educators.
PTUZ
has challenged the composition of the TPC saying the government was trying hard
to make sure it controlled teachers by trampling on their rights and freedoms.
has challenged the composition of the TPC saying the government was trying hard
to make sure it controlled teachers by trampling on their rights and freedoms.
The
Bill proposes that the profession be regulated by an 18-member council,
consisting of one representative from the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ),
Association of Trust Schools, Public Service Commission (PSC), Correspondence
and Independent Colleges, two members recommended by the Higher and Tertiary Education
ministry, from the Department of Teacher Education and Zimbabwe Council for
Higher Education, five registered teachers through an elected criteria set by
council and five registered teachers from teachers’ unions, among others.
Bill proposes that the profession be regulated by an 18-member council,
consisting of one representative from the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ),
Association of Trust Schools, Public Service Commission (PSC), Correspondence
and Independent Colleges, two members recommended by the Higher and Tertiary Education
ministry, from the Department of Teacher Education and Zimbabwe Council for
Higher Education, five registered teachers through an elected criteria set by
council and five registered teachers from teachers’ unions, among others.
If
established, the TPC would require teachers to seek an annually renewable
teaching practicing certificate which the council can either approve or reject
on its discretion.
established, the TPC would require teachers to seek an annually renewable
teaching practicing certificate which the council can either approve or reject
on its discretion.
PTUZ
president Dr Takavafira Zhou said they did not have anything against the TPC
but they wanted it to be run by teachers themselves without outside
interference.
president Dr Takavafira Zhou said they did not have anything against the TPC
but they wanted it to be run by teachers themselves without outside
interference.
“The
TPC should be run by teachers and the teachers should elect their own
chairperson. We do not want a situation where the TPC will be used to abuse
teachers. We are also against the issue of annual renewal of teaching
certificates but we are OK if it is done after five years. How can we have a
TPC without teachers?
TPC should be run by teachers and the teachers should elect their own
chairperson. We do not want a situation where the TPC will be used to abuse
teachers. We are also against the issue of annual renewal of teaching
certificates but we are OK if it is done after five years. How can we have a
TPC without teachers?
“It
should be a teacher’s council by teachers. When journalists want to have their
own union, they do not go to the Ministry of Information to be told how to run
the union. This is what we want as teachers.
should be a teacher’s council by teachers. When journalists want to have their
own union, they do not go to the Ministry of Information to be told how to run
the union. This is what we want as teachers.
“The
government is trying to silence teachers that if they demand better working
conditions and embark of industrial action, they would have their certificates
revoked,” said Zhou.
government is trying to silence teachers that if they demand better working
conditions and embark of industrial action, they would have their certificates
revoked,” said Zhou.
PTUZ
secretary general Raymond Majongwe said the government must not appear as the
prime movers of the initiative as they are the ones who came up with the idea
back in 2015.
secretary general Raymond Majongwe said the government must not appear as the
prime movers of the initiative as they are the ones who came up with the idea
back in 2015.
“In
2015, the PTUZ extensively interrogated the TPC issue but the government
ignored our submissions and suddenly they want to appear as the prime movers of
this initiative. The TPC must remain an autonomous self-regulating entity.
2015, the PTUZ extensively interrogated the TPC issue but the government
ignored our submissions and suddenly they want to appear as the prime movers of
this initiative. The TPC must remain an autonomous self-regulating entity.
“Our
position is very clear, government must be miles away from the TPC. Teachers
should lead the way without any interference,” Majongwe posted on Twitter.
position is very clear, government must be miles away from the TPC. Teachers
should lead the way without any interference,” Majongwe posted on Twitter.
