The calls for the hardship allowances come at a time when civil servants in the country are posing themselves for yet another stand-off with the government over salaries which they want increased from the current $220 to at least $450 the poverty datum line levels.
Zhou added that the system whereby incentives in school are dependent on the capability of parents to pay is creating mercenaries in the education sector. “We want standardised education where there are uniform incentives so as to motivate teachers, said Zhou Teachers in the country have been pressing the government to increase their salaries and expects President Robert Mugabe to honour the promise that he made recently that the government would review civil servants salaries in June.
“We are waiting for the agreed dates and if the government does not review the salaries then we will go on strike,” said Zhou.
Since the inception of the unity government two years ago unions have been involved in talks with the government to increase salaries but the government has maintained that it does not have the money.
“Government has the money but does not have money to pay civil servants. Constitution Development Officers are being paid more than teachers when they in some cases do not have the qualifications, our government is not prioritising teaching,” said Zhou.
Post published in: Education