-as teachers seek mental help due to deteriorating
Roseline Mutare
Masvingo – The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has raised concerns about the mental health crisis among teachers due to poor remuneration and conditions of service.
“We are seeing a rise in suicides, hate crimes, and crimes of passion among teachers, which is a clear indication of the mental health crisis in the sector,” said ARTUZ spokesperson Thembakhuye Moyo.
“We are calling on the government to urgently review teacher salaries as a permanent solution to this crisis, we will not hesitate to collaborate with other unions in job actions seeking salary review,” he added.
ARTUZ has declared September 10 as a sick leave day for all affected teachers to seek support from experts, citing rising mental health issues.
The quality of education in Zimbabwe is under threat due to the government’s failure to address the welfare of teachers, according to the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ).
PTUZ president, Dr. Takavafira Zhou warned that the current state of teachers’ welfare is having a devastating impact on the education system.
“The welfare of teachers has a direct impact on the quality of education, if teachers are not well taken care of, they cannot deliver quality education. Teachers are the managers of the country’s best asset, the learners. They deserve to be treated with dignity and paid accordingly,” said Zhou.
Zhou highlighted that teachers’ salaries have been unilaterally reduced, housing and transport allowances are inadequate, and working conditions in schools are deteriorating.
“Teachers are struggling to make ends meet, and this is affecting their morale and productivity,” he added.
The PTUZ is calling for an urgent review of teachers’ salaries, including the restoration of the purchasing power parity of US$540 basic salary, education allowance, housing allowance, transport allowance, and hardships allowance.
The union is also pushing for a robust collective bargaining forum to address teachers’ grievances and promote industrial harmony.
As Zimbabwe assumes the chairmanship of SADC, Dr. Zhou urged the government to take a regional perspective on teachers’ salaries and welfare.
“We must learn from our neighbors and prioritize education,” he said.
The PTUZ warned that failure to address teachers’ welfare will exacerbate industrial disharmony, negatively impacting sustainable development in Zimbabwe.
