As the 12 days of action intensify and the 12 Voices for Education get louder, the situation in schools has deteriorated beyond government control. Today, day 8, most practical subjects were supposed to be written and teachers all over the country stood firm on their demand for an in invigilation allowance by not invigilating. This resulted in learners doing practicals on their own without supervision or invigilating because of the adamant stance taken by government and it’s unit of oppression called ZIMSEC.
Headmasters were most affected as they had to control and supervise several writing classes of up to 60 students resulting in chaotic scenes at schools. Some students are reported to have abandoned their practical sites and proceeded home as they could not access examination material because there were no invigilators.
Many ARTUZ members have been threatened and harassed because of this industrial action but our teams have been able to attend to cases and defended the teachers. In light of all this chaos, one government missile launcher in the name of Taungana Ndoro went on to continue his tirade against teachers and learners alike by declaring that if teachers don’t invigilate, “Anyone will invigilate.” Not only are these remarks offensive to professionals but also they show the level of government commitment to the death of the Education Sector. Both the public and learners are yet to see this “Anyone” because as it stands chaos is reigning and normalcy can only be brought about by government efforts to engage teachers on a level table without any malicious intent.
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe has made it clear that it will propagate the 12 Voices of the marginalized and will continuously push for sincere dialogue and reform from government until our demands are met.
Until the pre-October 2018 salary of US $540 is restored and ZIMSEC pays teachers Invigilating allowances, this voice says: ALUTA CONTINUA!!!!
Source: ARTUZ
