ZIMTA raises teacher welfare concerns as schools reopen

THE Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (ZIMTA) has welcomed the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education's circular on the opening of schools for the third term on September 8, but warned that persistent challenges affecting teachers remain unaddressed.

In a statement issued on Monday, September 7, ZIMTA said it supported the Ministry's commitment to inclusive education, protection of learning time, collective responsibility among stakeholders and fair policies on school uniforms.

However, the union expressed concern that the circular did not address teacher welfare, particularly salaries, incentives, allowances for special responsibilities and working conditions.

ZIMTA said these issues were critical to the successful implementation of the school programme and called on the Ministry and Treasury to urgently address salaries and incentives before or at the start of the term.

The union also warned that teachers were under increasing pressure to fully implement the heritage-based curriculum while simultaneously preparing learners for public examinations.

It said the competing demands required adequate resources and manageable class sizes, particularly during a term that includes Grade 7, O-Level and A-Level examinations.

On school fees and levies, ZIMTA said school heads and teachers were often left to enforce payments, creating tensions between schools and parents.

The union called for clear and compassionate guidelines on fee collection, as well as greater Government support for learners covered under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).

ZIMTA further raised concerns over the implementation of inclusive education, saying while efforts to accommodate children with disabilities and returning migrants were welcome, schools had not been given sufficient clarity on additional training, specialist support and infrastructure.

"This leaves schools with unfunded mandates," the union said.

On transport, ZIMTA called for targeted subsidies for teachers and pupils, particularly in rural and underserved communities where long-distance travel is a challenge when schools reopen.

The union also called for genuine social dialogue, urging the Ministry to engage directly with ZIMTA and other teacher unions at an early stage rather than through intermediaries.

It said such engagement would be consistent with the Ministry's own emphasis on collective responsibility among stakeholders.