In a statement issued on Monday, 7 September 2026, ZIMTA said it supports the Ministry’s commitment to inclusive education, protection of learning time, collective responsibility among stakeholders and fair policies on school uniforms.
ZIMTA says its main concern is that the Ministry’s circular says nothing about teacher welfare. Salaries, incentives, allowances for special responsibilities and working conditions have been left out, yet these are essential for a successful term, ZIMTA said.
The union is calling for urgent action by the Ministry and Treasury to address salaries and incentives before or at the start of the term.
ZIMTA also warned that teachers are under excessive pressure from being re to fully implement the heritage-based curriculum while also preparing learners for public examinations. It said this dual demand requires adequate resources and manageable class sizes, particularly in a term that includes Grade 7, O-Level and A-Level exams.
On school fees and levies, the union said heads and teachers are left to enforce payments, which often strains relations with parents. It urged the Ministry to issue clear, compassionate guidelines on fee collection and to provide government support for fees under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).
ZIMTA also raised concerns about inclusion. While efforts to include children with disabilities and returning migrants are welcome, there is no clarity on extra training, specialist support or infrastructure, leaving schools with unfunded mandates, ZIMTA said.
On transport, the union called for subsidised, targeted support for teachers and pupils, especially in rural and underserved areas where they travel long distances when schools open.
The union also called for genuine social dialogue and urged the Ministry to engage directly with ZIMTA and other teacher unions early, rather than through proxies, in line with its own call for collective responsibility.