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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
THE Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Lazarus Dokora has said there is a need for Government to improve the welfare of teachers as most of them were exposed to harsh working conditions.
Speaking at a meeting with school heads and teachers in Plumtree, Dr Dokora said accommodation for educators, especially those in rural communities, had to be prioritised.
“Teachers are being treated like staff from the backyard. The accommodation that is being used by some teachers especially those in the rural areas is pathetic but at the end of the day they are expected to deliver.
“Provision of teacher housing has to be a priority for the Government. In as much as Government is lobbying for schools to be built it should also consider providing decent accommodation for teachers both in rural and urban schools,” he said.
Dr Dokora said teachers were supposed to be offered accommodation within school premises, both in rural and urban areas.
He said while living conditions were better for urban teachers, rural teachers were the most affected.
Dr Dokora said government should also put in place programmes to capacitate teachers to ensure that they are knowledgeable about the new school curriculum.
He called on teachers to attend the World Teachers’ Day commemorations to be held in Harare on Saturday to air their grievances.
“No teacher is supposed to stay outside the school premises where they are posted. Infrastructure development shouldn’t be biased towards building classrooms and laboratories only but housing for staff members as well.
“These are the issues that we lobby for when we are in Cabinet but that is not enough. I urge all teachers to attend the World Teachers’ Day so that they can cry out for Government to address their plight,” he said.
Dr Dokora also appealed to school development committees to prioritise the building of houses for teachers in their development projects.
—@DubeMatutu.
derick.khumalo