NewsDay
By Moses Matenga
24 August 2012
Rural teachers are set to form a splinter representative union, the Zimbabwe Rural Teachers’ Association, which will cater for their specific interests.
The eachers have for long accused existing unions and government of downplaying their grievances.
The move came at a time rural teachers were complaining that they were missing out on incentives given to their counterparts in urban schools.
Rural teachers have also complained of harassment by politicians during election campaigns with most of them perceived as opposition supporters.
In a notice published in the latest Government Gazette, Public Service minister Lucia Matibenga gave notice for representations with her ministry within 30 days on the proposed union.
“An application has been received for the recognition of the Zimbabwe Rural Teachers’ Union as a Public Service Association whose mandate shall be to represent the interests of teachers in rural areas who are employed by the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture,†she said.
Education minister David Coltart yesterday conceded that the plight of rural teachers needed to be addressed.
“I am not sure who is behind this, but I thought the current teacher organisations were representing them. There is a disparity between the conditions enjoyed by rural teachers and urban teachers,†he said.
“We have tried to reintroduce rural allowances to bring equity. The other problem is a practical one as a result of poor conditions in rural areas, there is a higher percentage of unqualified teachers and that can be shown by the Grade Seven results compared to urban schools.â€
Apex Council president David Dzatsunga said existing teachers’ unions had done their best to represent all teachers. “These are people who may want to look at things differently and probably serve the interests of teachers or their own interests,†he said.