Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Zimeye
Published on 2024-03-19 06:05:39
Zimbabwean education is currently facing a crisis as teachers are preparing to go on strike due to the deteriorating conditions of service. The Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Unions (FOZEU), a coalition of radical teachers’ unions, has called for a 3-day job action starting on March 20, 2024.
The trigger for the strike was the government’s recent wage increase of US$20, which the teachers consider to be insufficient and a mockery. FOZEU has announced that no teacher should report for duty from March 20 to March 22, 2024, and that the mass action will continue until the government meets their demands for a living wage.
In a statement released by FOZEU, they reported that after consulting with 56,700 teachers, 55,220 of them supported the call for a job action before schools close, with plans to escalate it to an indefinite national strike when schools open for the second term. The teachers expressed grievances such as struggling to pay examination fees for their own children due to inadequate salaries, highlighting the irony of educators preparing students for exams while facing financial challenges themselves.
FOZEU has laid out specific demands and strategies for the strike, including engaging with other unions in the Civil Service to collaborate on the fight for a living wage, extending deadlines for exam registrations until the salary crisis is resolved, and offering legal assistance to any teachers facing victimization during the strike. They have called on teachers to mobilize at the classroom level to ensure the success of the job action and put pressure on the government to meet their demands.
The Federation emphasizes that the right to strike is constitutionally protected in Zimbabwe, and they urge teachers to exercise this right to fight for better working conditions. They are calling for a living wage of USD1,260 and encourage teachers to fully withdraw their labor to apply maximum pressure on the government.
As the situation unfolds, FOZEU is committed to standing with teachers and providing support as they push for fair compensation and improved working conditions. The education system in Zimbabwe is at a critical juncture, and the outcome of this strike could have far-reaching implications for the future of education in the country.
In conclusion, the collapse of the education system in Zimbabwe is a real threat as teachers prepare to go on strike to demand better wages and working conditions. The Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Unions is leading the charge, calling on all teachers to participate in a 3-day job action to pressure the government to address their grievances. The outcome of this strike could have significant repercussions for the education sector in Zimbabwe and the well-being of teachers across the country.
Read the original article on The Zimbabwe Eye
