Teachers demand salary hikes based on qualifications, Minister agrees

TEACHERS have said they want to be paid salaries commensurate with their qualifications and experience and also urged Government to revive manpower development leave programmes.

These requests appear to resonate with the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerai Moyo, a former teacher himself.

Minister Moyo on Thursday met district schools inspectors, school heads and other ministry officials from Matabeleland North province at Tsholotsho High School to discuss various issues affecting especially teachers.

Sicelo Dube, the headmaster of Tsholotsho High School and chairperson of the National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash), in his presentation emphasised that teachers’ salaries should reflect the profession’s duties, responsibilities as well as the individual’s qualifications and experience.

He said a teacher with a Bachelor’s degree and one with a diploma should not be paid the same salary.

“Teachers should be paid salaries commensurate with their qualifications, grade and experience,” said Dube.

He stressed the need for reviving the manpower development leave programme which allowed teachers to pursue professional development opportunities while on full pay.

This, Dube argued, would enable teachers to improve their academic qualifications while be paid enough to fend for their families.

He also requested that secondary schools be allowed to engage substantive deputy heads at the same enrolment level as primary schools. This means a designated deputy head position should be created once enrolment reaches 200 students.

Dube explained that this will alleviate the burden on school heads, who are stretched by administrative duties.

He also said school heads should be exempt from teaching to concentrate on administration work.

Dube argued that students lose valuable learning time when teaching heads attend to administration work.

Minister Moyo said he totally supported the idea of paying salaries commensurate with teachers’ qualifications and experience. He said he will soon engage the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to discuss how this could be implemented.

“I totally agree that teachers should be paid salaries commensurate with their academic qualificiations and experience. These are labour issues and honestly someone with a diploma cannot be paid the same salary as a PHD holder, it’s absurd. Even the number of years one has worked must be considered because that experience is invaluable. I will soon engage with my counterpart Minister Moyo (July) on this,” said Minister Moyo.

The Minister said he was a beneficiary of the manpower development leave programme and wants it revived .

He highlighted how it allowed him to pursue studies at Leeds University in the UK while still receiving his full salary.

Minister Moyo said the revival of the programme was a noble idea that will go a long way in incentivising teachers.

“There is therefore an urgent need to bring it back and we will soon approach the Public Service Commission as the programme will encourage teachers to improve their qualifications,” he said.

The Public Service Regulations (Section 40 of Statutory Instrument 1 of 2000) allow for manpower development leave. The leave is granted to employees for pursuing studies or training that can improve their efficiency, effectiveness, and motivation. These opportunities can include work exchange programmes, work attachments, short courses, professional training, academic courses and exams (above secondary level) and training seminars, workshops and conferences.

During his two-day tour, Minister Moyo visited Tshabanda Adventist High School, Mtshina Primary and Secondary School and Tsholotsho High School. At Tsholotsho High School, he toured their successful agricultural projects and unveiled a new bus.