Suspension of teachers slammed
Providence Moyo
BULAWAYO-Non-governmental organisations and individuals have bemoaned the suspension of teachers who declared themselves too incapacitated to return to their work stations.
Schools officially opened on the 7th of of this month but the majority of teachers did not turn up for the new term citing incapacitation and calling for government to restore their $540.
The government responded by suspending all absent teachers for three months without pay.
Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights Coordinator, Khumbulani Maphosa said the situation could have been avoided by dialogue. He said a blanket suspension of teachers will not yield anything positive and is not in the best interests of students.
“Positive dialogue could have served the interests of the children better. The two parties should have handled this situation better,” he said.
Maphosa added that the strike by teachers is constitutional and for a good cause.
“Strikes are constitutional as long as they are non-violent. If teachers are saying they are incapacitated they should be taken seriously. Listening to and acting appropriately to their grievances could help teachers and students.
Chances are high that those suspended could be replaced by less qualified teachers or student teachers which is likely to affect student performance,” he said.
Tatenda Mamina, Director of Smile Action International Operations, an organisation that focuses on children living with disability, expressed his worries about the loss of connection between students with special needs and their teachers due to the salary fight.
“We encourage teachers to also consider the impact of striking on the future of our children especially during this Covid 19 era which has seen children lose too much of learning time,” he added.
The Zimbabwe National Union of School Heads has defied a government order to release names of teachers who have been on strike.
ZINUSH Secretary General Munyaradzi Majoni said claims of incapacitation are genuine as teachers do not the have means to report for duty. Teachers Unions have also taken to their social media accounts to urge teachers to remain resolute until their grievances are addressed.
Renowned Constitutional lawyer and Law Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, Lovemore Madhuku said the Minister of Primary and Secondary, Evelyn Ndlovu erred by suspending teachers because she simply does not have such powers.
“Teachers cannot be suspended from work by a Govt Minister: they are employed by the PSC. Even the PSC itself has no power whatsoever to effect a blanket and mass suspension. The purported suspensions are unacceptable. Govt must dialogue with teachers’ unions and address issues,” said Prof Madhuku on Twitter.
The Suspension of teachers for three months without pay comes after teachers rejected government’s offer to increase salaries by 20% as well as other non-monetary benefits.
