ZIMBABWE: Teachers' strike averted at the last minute as the economic crisis continues to threaten the country's institutions

Record ID: 455549

  • Title: ZIMBABWE: Teachers' strike averted at the last minute as the economic crisis continues to threaten the country's institutions
  • Date: 8th May 2009
  • Summary: HARARE, ZIMBABWE (MAY 6, 2009) (REUTERS) SCHOOL CHILDREN IN YARD SCHOOL SIGN SCHOOL CHILDREN DISEMBARKING FROM SCHOOL BUS SCHOOL ENTRANCE CHILDREN INSIDE SCHOOL PREMISES (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED HARARE RESIDENT, SAYING: "We are very happy as parents because 150 was a bit too much for us, for me I have two kids so I needed 300 for them plus the levy. So the cutting of the fees is just a miracle for us parents." (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED HARARE RESIDENT, SAYING: "I think it's a good idea because most of us we can now be able to pay the fees, it's affordable actually." CHILDREN RINGING SCHOOL BELL TEACHERS' UNION LEADER ARRIVING AT BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) RAYMOND MAJONGWE, LEADER, PROGRESSIVE TEACHERS' UNION, SAYING: "I want to believe that the minister, in his personal capacity, understood our cause and it resulted in the slashing of fees because there had been serious resentments by parents in sending their children to school, paying so much when in actual fact the same parents are not earning that same amount." CHILDREN GOING INTO CLASS (SOUNDBITE) (English) RAYMOND MAJONGWE, LEADER, PROGRESSIVE TEACHERS' UNION, SAYING: "Even the 20 dollars that we are saying should be paid by those in the affluent and elite suburbs - it's still too much - because there are maids and gardeners who are living in Borrowdale, and in the western suburbs who can't afford the 20 dollars that they are being asked to pay. So we honestly want to believe that there mustn't be that discrimination, if we are going to say 5 dollars, it's 5 dollars for everybody." CHILDREN CROSSING THE ROAD
  • Embargoed: 23rd May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Zimbabwe
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Topics: Economic News,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA16GSN8ZVL7QMXG4WX9G316MSI
  • Story Text: Zimbabwe's government slashed school fees by as much as 93 percent and averted a teachers strike on Tuesday (May 5) after exempting them from paying fees for their children, state media reported on Tuesday.
    The unity government of President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is struggling to pay workers as Western donors continue to withhold crucial aid, demanding authorities carry out wider political reforms first.
    Education Minister David Coltart said school fees had been cut to between 5 US dollars (USD) and 20 USD a term in state primary and secondary schools, down from between 20 and 280 USD announced two months ago, which parents said were unaffordable due to low wages and high living costs.
    "We are very happy as parents because 150 was a bit too much for us, for me I have two kids so I needed 300 for them plus the levy. So the cutting of fees is just a miracle for us parents," said an unidentified Harare resident.
    "I think it's a good idea because most of us we can now be able to pay the fees, it's affordable actually," added another Harere resident.
    In contrast, parents at private schools have to pay up to 3,000 USD per school term.
    The new school term opened on Tuesday with teachers' unions urging their members to report for duty after reaching an agreement with the government.
    "I want to believe that the minister, in his personal capacity, understood our cause and it resulted in the slashing of fees because there had been serious resentments by parents in sending their children to school paying so much when in actual fact the same parents are not earning that same amount," said Raymond Majongwe, a teachers' union leader.
    Newspapers reported that the government and unions had struck a deal late on Monday (May 4) which exempted teachers from paying fees as for their children in state schools, as part of their employment package.
    "Even the 20 dollars that we are saying should be paid by those in the affluent and elite suburbs - it's still too much - because there are maids and gardeners who are living in Borrowdale, and in the western suburbs who can't afford the 20 dollars that they are being asked to pay. So we honestly want to believe that there mustn't be that discrimination, if we are going to say 5 dollars, it's 5 dollars for everybody," added Majongwe.
    Tsvangirai said last week the unity government was broke and could not meet union demands for higher wages.
    All government employees, including Mugabe and Tsvangirai, are paid a monthly allowance of 100 USD.
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