Author Archives: David Coltart
Zimbabwe Teachers Union comes off sidelines with partial strike call
VOA 4 September 2009 By Patience Rusere Washington – Officers and hundreds of members of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe met in Harare on Friday and resolved to stay away from work two days a week though continuing to give lessons the other three in a partial strike The decision was seen as a […]
Teachers heed strike call
Zimonline 4 September 2009 By Andrew Moyo HARARE – More Zimbabwean teachers on Wednesday appeared to heed union calls to boycott classes to press the government to increase salaries and improve working conditions. The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA), the largest of two unions representing the country’s 90 000 teachers called for an indefinite nationwide strike […]
Teachers association accused of ‘deliberate’ disruption of education
The Zimbabwean 4 September 2009 The country’s largest teachers’ union has this week been accused of deliberately disrupting the start of the new school term, with observers commenting that the union has highly politicised motives. Thousands of members of the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) on Wednesday embarked on a nationwide strike to coincide with the […]
Teachers’ Stance Commendable
The Herald Editorial 4 September 2009 Harare — Teachers’ unions that have urged their members to report for work despite complaints over salaries should be commended for their understanding and valuing the needs of students. However, as we have previously stated, there is need to holistically address the issue of salaries of not only teachers, […]
Wide Participation by Zimbabwean Teachers Reported in New Schools Strike
VOA 3 September 2009 By Jonga Kandemiiri Many of Zimbabwe’s public primary and secondary schools were idled Thursday on the second day of a teachers strike called by the Zimbabwe Teachers Association, which is demanding a significant increase in monthly compensation for its members, though the rival Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe was not officially […]
Strike reveals rivalry among teachers
Zimbabwe Times 3 September 2009 HARARE – Zimbabwe’s teachers launched a countrywide strike which coincided with the opening of schools for the third term on Wednesday. But the uncoordinated strike action has exposed divisions between the two major teachers’ unions along what observers say are political lines. Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) president, Tendai Chikowore, which […]
Perennial Strikes Crippling Zimbabwe’s Once-Admired Education System
VOA 3 September 2009 By Patience Rusere Zimbabwe’s public school system, once considered the best in Africa, remains mired in crisis despite hope it would revive under the national unity government installed in February. David Coltart’s appointment as minister of education was welcomed by many including the unions representing teachers, and he has won plaudits […]
Start of new term marred by teachers strike
SW Radio Africa 3 September 2009 The start of the new school term has been marred by a strike by some teachers on Wednesday, after members of the leading teachers’ union refused to return to their posts. Schools reopened as scheduled on Wednesday, but many classes were suspended because of the nationwide strike. Teachers with […]
Teachers Heed Call Against Strike Action
The Herald 3 September 2009 Harare — Thousands of schoolteachers countrywide heeded calls by their unions to report for duty as lessons resumed in earnest for the third term yesterday. However, there was confusion in some provinces over the actual opening date as some schools had indicated to students and teachers that the third term […]
Undoing two decades of neglect
Prime Minister’s Newsletter www.zimbabweprimeminister.org 2nd September 2009 Schools are opening on Wednesday for the third term under the veil of a pay strike threat by the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA). We interviewed the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart (DC) to find out more about the situation in public schools. Q: Are […]