PTUZ mourns Zimbabwe teachers' status

The Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has lamented the deteriorating status of teachers in the country, describing their condition as dire ahead of the belated commemoration of World Teachers' Day in Gwanda on 10 October 2025.

World Teachers' Day, observed globally on 5 October, marks the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendations concerning the Status of Teachers, which set international standards for teachers' rights, responsibilities, and working conditions.

PTUZ President Takavafira Zhou said the union's 2025 theme is: "Well remunerated, motivated and resourced teachers: A must for quality public education."

"It is a reminder to the government that it remains the biggest threat to the education system in the country by underpaying teachers and under-resourcing them, let alone demotivating them," Zhou said.

He cited the Education 2030 Framework of Action, which emphasises the need for teachers to be well paid, motivated, and supported within efficient and effectively governed systems.

"Sadly, teachers who in essence are the managers of the nation's best asset in terms of young people, are wallowing in poverty in Zimbabwe. Most have to scavenge for food, sell bananas and sweets to their students in order to survive. Not surprisingly, many are experiencing psycho-social challenges with suicides becoming routine rather than episodic," he said.

Zhou highlighted a shortage of 3,000 schools and a deficit of more than 50,000 teachers, resulting in bloated and composite classes. He said 65% of secondary and 75% of primary schools lack electricity or solar power, undermining ICT-based learning.

"Curriculum change has lacked innovation and dynamism and remains closeted to examinations in an era where a skills revolution must be a priority," he added.

Zhou also warned of a brain drain of 15,000 teachers annually and a sharp decline in male enrolment in teacher training institutions, now below 10%.

"This decline will compromise the future availability of male teachers and the overall gender diversity within the education sector," he said.

He linked de-industrialisation to rising unemployment, poverty, and drug abuse, which he said are undermining effective learning and contributing to high dropout rates.

PTUZ is calling for a basic salary of US$540 per month, a 30% rural and hardship allowance, US$120 transport allowance, and US$100 education allowance. The union also demands realistic housing support, land allocation for teachers, and binding collective bargaining under Section 65 of the Constitution.

"There should be local processing of abundant raw materials in order to add value and beneficiation, let alone enrich government coffers so as to pay teachers better salaries," Zhou said.

He urged curriculum decolonisation and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems and climate change education.

"There is, therefore, an urgent need to focus on status restoration of teachers in order to enhance quality public education in Zimbabwe. Only well paid, motivated and resourced teachers can be dynamic, innovative and provide students with analytical rigour, motivation and interest for life-long learning," he said.

"Motivated teachers can plant seeds of knowledge that grow forever. Arguably, well paid, motivated and resourced teachers can impart knowledge that fosters sustainable development of not only a country, but also a region, continent and the global world."