Zimbabwean teachers resolved to go on strike late last week- for the second time in a month, now demanding a monthly total package of $1.7 billion from this month's figure, which was recently increased to figures around $200 million.

According to the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), the decision was made after the government was unwilling and was trivializing the teachers' concerns by unilaterally awarding a basic salary of $141 million.

"We warn the government that taking its cold indifference attitude of 'business as usual' pretending that there is learning in schools during the strike is as cruel as it is disastrous."

"Teachers are urging the government to swiftly act in good faith and engage all teacher organisations in meaningful negotiations to minimize further damage to our already collapsing education system," said PTUZ in a statement.

The beginning of this month, teachers embarked on a massive strike as schools opened for the first term, joining doctors, nurses and judicial personnel. The government resorted to an advance salary for teachers, followed by an increment for the month of January.

In November last year, teachers were demanding a basic salary of $150 million, transport allowance of $88 million and a housing allowance of $80 million for the period of the first month of 2008, of which the government did not address.

The beginning of January, teachers wanted a basic pay of $250 million, transport allowance of $126 million and a housing allowance of $150 million.

The PTUZ says teachers are going on strike because they are stressed, bodies are weak and minds numb owing to prolonged exposure to poverty which has destroyed the professional person in them.

"We do not want to cheat innocent children and parents into believing that meaningful teaching is taking place or neither do we want to convert students from learners to customers."

Teachers are now demanding that the government practise zero tolerance on politically motivated violence against teachers. The state must also stop the teacher exodus to neighbouring countries by giving them salaries and working conditions which are better than those offered in other nations.

Other demands by teachers entail the state consider peculiar concerns of the education sector and not to give umbrella treatments in the name of the APEX Council. Improve dilapidating infrastructure in schools. Provide learning and teaching materials for effective teaching to take place and exempting teachers from paying school fees for their children.

PTUZ adds teachers' salaries are too low and this month, on average, salaries were pegged at $110 million.

"We do not have the money to travel to work, feed our families and pay fees for our children. We want to reclaim our respectable position in society," emphasised PTUZ.

Currently, there is a critical shortage of teachers in schools as many have opted for greener pastures especially in neighbouring countries of South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique.

A critical shortage of learning material has also loomed in most local schools whilst infrastructure is dilapidated as buildings and school furniture have for long not been renovated and repaired due lack of funds.

Teachers are also pushing that our country's candidates write credible examinations so that they learn and work in any country because ZIMSEC is being an active ingredient in undermining public confidence in our education and examination system.

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