A snap survey in Chitungwiza showed that most teachers charge between $20 and $25 for the whole holiday per student.
Interviewed teachers told The Zimbabwean that the school holidays provided them with an opportunity to make some extra cash.
“I have about 25 students during the school terms and it’s difficult to attend to them all. During school holidays, I am able to teach them from morning till sunset. This provides me with an opportunity to make extra cash,” said a teacher who preferred not to be named.
The fact that learning standards in most government schools have drastically fallen means that parents have little choice but to send their children for extra lessons.
“Our children tell us that when they go for extra lessons, the teachers teach whole heartedly. I think this has been a result of the low salaries they are being given by government,” said a parent from Chitungwiza, Miriam Korwai.
“Although this might appear to be unfair, I think there is no other option for the teachers because they have families and they need to survive.” Most teachers, like many other civil servants, are earning far below the Poverty Datum Line. The lowest paid government worker earns $296 and the Poverty Datum Line is pegged at around $600.
Post published in: News