“Headmasters at the schools approached the local traditional leadership with the teachers’ request and after considering their situation, we allowed that to happen. We have always had the teachers asking for food hand-outs from villagers, who are also going hungry,” said a herdman at Mathambo resettlement area, who requested not to be named.
He added that this would help the local community to keep the few “gallant” teachers who remained in the area after the serious brain drain that has hit most schools in the province in the past few years.
A teacher at Siziphile primary school said: “Although it might sound like something embarrassing for us to do, we had no choice. It is better to get food hand-outs and be laughed at than to faint in class due to hunger. The regional education department knows about that but because they also do not have anything to do about our situation, they allowed us to do it.”
Teachers earn an average basic monthly salary of about Z$400 million. No comment could be obtained from the education minister.
Post published in: News