News / National
ARTUZ boycott schools opening..plan mass protests, extra lessons
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Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has called upon its membership to further boycott schools opening, announce (plans for) mass protests and embark on extra lessons to force government in conceding demands for averting absolute education sector collapse.
In a statement this Tuesday, ARTUZ expressed deep concern over the dire state of the education sector as schools officially open where initial reports indicate that only 30% of teachers reported for duty thereby reflecting severe challenges faced by the teaching workforce.
"This low attendance is a direct result of teachers' inability to meet the costs of returning to work, a situation exacerbated by inadequate salaries and the absence of meaningful financial support from the government. As a result, learners across Zimbabwe are bearing the brunt of this crisis, with many classrooms left without educators," the statement said.
ARTUZ lays out demands to save Zimbabwe's education system where it reiterates the urgent need for the government to address various key issues.
"Teachers require an immediate hardship allowance of $200 to alleviate the financial strain and enable them to resume their duties. This allowance should be paid every term to enable teachers to get back to school," the statement added.
"The government must ensure education grants are distributed equitably to bridge the gap between rural and urban schools and guarantee equal learning opportunities for all students," it added.
It also demanded for a supplementary budget since the current allocation for education is grossly insufficient. ARTUZ claims that supplementary budget is essential to address critical shortages in infrastructure, learning materials, and teacher welfare.
It demands that there is a need for curriculum implementation funding. ARTUZ claims that teachers have not received adequate training or resources to implement the new curriculum, hence the government must urgently fund the provision of syllabi, teacher training, and internet allowances to support research and modern teaching practices.
Also, it demanded that the overwhelming debt burden among teachers, caused by inadequate salaries, must be addressed through a sustainable debt relief program.
In its tireless efforts to show incapacitation and solidarity with educators and learners, ARTUZ declares the week of 14 to 21 January as Education Week, with a #SaveOurEducationZw campaign being launched.
"During this period, the union will mobilize citizens to sign a petition highlighting the above demands. We will host Parents-Teachers Association meetings to strategize collective action, organize peaceful protests to amplify the voices of teachers, parents, and students," ARTUZ said.
"We will conduct community-based teaching sessions outside traditional classrooms," the ARTUZ statement reads.
In a statement this Tuesday, ARTUZ expressed deep concern over the dire state of the education sector as schools officially open where initial reports indicate that only 30% of teachers reported for duty thereby reflecting severe challenges faced by the teaching workforce.
"This low attendance is a direct result of teachers' inability to meet the costs of returning to work, a situation exacerbated by inadequate salaries and the absence of meaningful financial support from the government. As a result, learners across Zimbabwe are bearing the brunt of this crisis, with many classrooms left without educators," the statement said.
ARTUZ lays out demands to save Zimbabwe's education system where it reiterates the urgent need for the government to address various key issues.
"Teachers require an immediate hardship allowance of $200 to alleviate the financial strain and enable them to resume their duties. This allowance should be paid every term to enable teachers to get back to school," the statement added.
"The government must ensure education grants are distributed equitably to bridge the gap between rural and urban schools and guarantee equal learning opportunities for all students," it added.
It also demanded for a supplementary budget since the current allocation for education is grossly insufficient. ARTUZ claims that supplementary budget is essential to address critical shortages in infrastructure, learning materials, and teacher welfare.
It demands that there is a need for curriculum implementation funding. ARTUZ claims that teachers have not received adequate training or resources to implement the new curriculum, hence the government must urgently fund the provision of syllabi, teacher training, and internet allowances to support research and modern teaching practices.
Also, it demanded that the overwhelming debt burden among teachers, caused by inadequate salaries, must be addressed through a sustainable debt relief program.
In its tireless efforts to show incapacitation and solidarity with educators and learners, ARTUZ declares the week of 14 to 21 January as Education Week, with a #SaveOurEducationZw campaign being launched.
"During this period, the union will mobilize citizens to sign a petition highlighting the above demands. We will host Parents-Teachers Association meetings to strategize collective action, organize peaceful protests to amplify the voices of teachers, parents, and students," ARTUZ said.
"We will conduct community-based teaching sessions outside traditional classrooms," the ARTUZ statement reads.
Source - Byo24News
