Sundaymail Editor
Online Reporter
TEACHERS Unions have appealed to Government to look into their financial welfare before their members resume work as schools re-open from Monday.
Various representative bodies said teachers have long been paid and are running short of financial resources to return to their workstations.
Government announced yesterday that schools will commence on August 30 for examination classes, and 6 September for non-examinations classes.
However, teachers’ unions said the timing of schools opening had put them at a disadvantage, as they no longer have monies to go back to school after exhausting their salaries.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) acting secretary general, Goodwills Taderara said teachers are also faced with school fees for their children.
“Teachers have long since been paid. They no longer have adequate resources to take them back to schools. Remember they are scattered throughout the nation as we speak,” said Mr Taderera.
“Thinking that they will just be able to travel to schools when service providers are demanding United States dollars in terms of transport is a tall order. Remember we also have school fees to pay for our children, we also have food to put on the table and to think that teachers will be able to manage all that, it’s difficult.”
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Association (Artuz) president, Mr Obert Masaraure said teachers’ concerns needed to be addressed.
“For the record ARTUZ is for education and our hope is that Government attends to the fundamentals to enable our schools to safely and effectively open.”
Zimbabwe National Teachers Union (Zinatu) chief executive officer Manuel Nyawo urged Government to facilitate the movement of teachers to their workplaces.
Contacted for comment the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro said he was on an outreach programme and will respond later.
Online Reporter