Teachers in Zimbabwe Agree to Monitor Exams Without Pay – For Now

VOA
By Jonga Kandemiiri
Washington
25 November 2009

Zimbabwe’s two main teachers unions said Wednesday they will encourage members to oversee ordinary and advanced-level examinations expected to start Thursday, while they engage the government on payments.The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Teachers Association say they will seek eventual compensation.

Education Minister David Coltart said Tuesday that the government does not have enough money to pay teachers to invigilate examinations, urging teachers to perform this duty for the good of their students.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association Secretary General Richard Gundani told VOA Studio 7 reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that his members will oversee exams while continuing to discuss the question of compensation with the government.

In a related development, the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council was accused of failing to issue timely statements of entry to candidates sitting for this year’s ‘”O” and “A” level examinations, though officials in some schools reached by VOA said they received statements of entry Wednesday.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe President Takavafira Zhou told Jonga Kandemiiri his union will ask the government to credit teachers with additional days of work if they oversee examinations in this period.