The HeraldÂ
By Felex Share
19 October 2011
Some teachers’ unions yesterday walked out of a meeting to discuss the incentives they are being paid by parents.
The meeting was nearly aborted, but some delegates continued with deliberations and agreed that the incentives will be scrapped when Government awards teachers a “reasonable salary increment” in the 2012 National Budget.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti presents the budget in Parliament next month.
The parties agreed that Government should introduce an education allowance that will standardise incentives if it fails to award salary increases above the Poverty Datum Line.
The PDL currently stands at US$502.
The meeting was attended by Education, Sport, Arts and Culture officials, provincial education directors from across Zimbabwe, representatives of the National Association of School Heads, the National Association of Primary Heads, School Development Associations and representatives from mission schools.
According to sources, divisions erupted during the meeting with heated arguments between the Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe and the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe.
PTUZ wanted incentives scrapped, while TUZ wanted them to stay.
PTUZ secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe walked out of the meeting while TUZ chief executive Mr Manuel Nyawo only returned to the meeting after an intervention by Government officials.
Mr Majongwe said there was “nothing new” about tempers flaring during meetings.
“Tempers flare everywhere even in Parliament. The reason for the walkout was because some of our colleagues particularly TUZ wanted to talk about things which were not on the agenda and we couldn’t tolerate that,” he said.
“Moreover, I wanted to attend Tongai Moyo’s funeral and I am already in Kwekwe as I speak”
He said there was however, need for the unions to pressure Government for decent salary increments.
“We cannot continue burdening the parents who are failing to make ends meet. There are more than 207 court cases because of the incentives and how can you continue with such a divisive policy?” he said.
Mr Nyawo acknowledged the disturbances, but called for “a gradual exit” on the issue.
He said the 2012 National Budget would determine the way forward.
“We hope the budget will bring something for the teachers. Failure to do that means there should be an education allowance, which will also cover the auxiliary staff, including DEOs (district education officers).”
Mr Nyawo however, said they would turn to parents if Government fails to award reasonable increments.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said incentives can only be compensated in monetary terms from Government.
“It is going to be a gradual process. We have realised that incentives are a tolerable evil whose lifespan hinges on Government efforts in addressing our plight,” he said.
He also confirmed the walkout.
“There was a heated debate, but you cannot solve chaos by creating another chaos.”
The incentives issue has created divisions between parents and school heads.
Last month, parents and pupils assaulted the headmaster at Victoria High School over incentives.
No comment could be obtained from Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart as his mobile phone was not reachable.
The minister recently convened a meeting after union leaders blamed him for crafting a policy that brought “mayhem” to the education sector.