Headmasters turn back students at schools.

By Tendai Chisiri

Third phase of reopening of schools in Zimbabwe has met stiff resistance from teachers who are demanding better wages as headmasters turn back home students due to teachers’ absence.

The phased reopening, approved by Cabinet was done in three stages. The three examination classes — Grade 7, Form 4 and Upper Sixth — opened on September 28 in phase 1.

Four weeks later, on October 26, next year’s examination classes — Grade 6, Form 3 and Lower Sixth or Form 5 — opened in the second phase and a fortnight after that, on November 9, everyone else went back to school — ECD A and B, Grades 1 to 5 and Forms 1 and 2.

However poor remuneration has caused teachers to leave the classes unattended as they go for part time work. Negotiations between the teachers and their employer the Government was not fruitful as the teachers refused the pay increment of about 60 % to civil servants with the salary of the lowest paid at $ 13 590 ZWL and the most paid pocketing $ 16 430 ZWL .

There has been uproar over the recent spate of mischievous activity in schools. This followed the reopening of schools in the 1st phase that saw most teachers not turning for work. Students took it upon themselves to get busy with all sorts of mischief sparking a lot of controversy on their future.

The behavior by students at schools in the 1st and 2nd phase of schools reopening as teachers boycotted classes is the reason why headmaster are turning back students from school in fear of their safety.

The reopening of all classes saw ECD A and B and Grades 1 to 5 going back to school and this age group need strict supervision of mature people.

Most headmasters in the urban city of Harare turned back students after teachers reported for duty but didnot attend classe till their grievances have been met.

” The headmaster told us to go back home because teachers are not in class”, said a pupil at Glen_- Norah No. 7 primary school. The was the same scenario at a nearby primary school in Glen-m Norah Zuvarabuda primary school where the headmaster was turning back students.

In and around Zimbabwe, headmasters have seen it unfit for students to be left unattended especially those in the lower grades.