School heads in Zimbabwe have threatened to go on strike next term if the government does not pay them in US dollars, joining their junior staff who have been on strike since last year. The school heads say the local currency component of their salaries is eroding their benefits due to inflation.
Why Are School Heads Unhappy?
According to the Zimbabwe National Union of School Heads (Zinush), the school heads are currently earning at least US$300 and about ZWL$600 000 per month. However, they claim that the local currency is losing value rapidly and cannot sustain their livelihoods.
Zinush secretary-general Munyaradzi Majoni said in a statement that the school heads want their salaries and allowances to be entirely in hard currency. He said the union had written to the employer recommending that the school fees facility, which was introduced as an incentive for teachers, should be accessed by all in education.
The school fees facility allows teachers to have their children’s school fees paid by the government. However, Zinush said the facility was discriminatory and laborious, as it required submission of invoices every term and only benefited those with children in school.
How Has The Government Responded?
Based on a report by Newsday Zimbabwe, the government has not yet responded to the school heads’ demands. However, it has been trying to lure the striking teachers back to work by offering various incentives, such as a 10% salary increment, a US$75 COVID-19 allowance, and a risk allowance.
The government has also threatened to withhold salaries and benefits from teachers who are not reporting for duty. It has also deployed provincial education directors to monitor teacher attendance and enforce disciplinary measures.
However, the teachers’ unions have rejected the government’s offers and threats, saying they are inadequate and insincere. They have vowed to continue their strike until they receive a salary restoration to the equivalent of US$520, which they earned in 2018 before the country abandoned the US dollar.
What Is The Impact of The Strike?
The strike by teachers has severely affected the quality of education in Zimbabwe, especially for public school students. Many students have missed classes for months, while others have resorted to online learning or private tuition, which are costly and inaccessible for many.
The strike has also disrupted the examination calendar, as some teachers have refused to invigilate or mark exams. The government has had to hire temporary teachers and examiners, but people have questioned their competence and credibility.
Poor infrastructure, inadequate resources, low morale, and corruption have plagued Zimbabwe’s education sector, and the strike has exposed the deepening crisis. Many stakeholders have called for urgent reforms and dialogue to address the challenges facing the sector and restore its former glory.
The strike by teachers and school heads has been one of the longest and most contentious in Zimbabwe’s history. It has pitted the government against the unions, with neither side willing to compromise or concede.
However, both parties have expressed willingness to engage and resolve the impasse through dialogue and negotiation. The government has said it is open to dialogue with the unions, while the unions have said they are ready to resume work if their grievances are addressed.
The involvement of other stakeholders, such as civil society, churches, parents, and students, could also help to break the deadlock and facilitate a lasting solution. The stakeholders have urged the government and the unions to put the interests of the students and the nation first and find a way to end the strike.
