THE Government has reportedly stopped paying allowances to
Advanced Level teachers whose classes do not meet the required minimum number
of pupils and hours in class, it has been learnt.
All along, A-level teachers were paid an extra Sixth Form
allowance of $100 at the end of each term in addition to their ordinary
salaries and allowances. But under the new guidelines, the allowances will be
paid based on the number of pupils per class as well as the number of contact
hours a teacher has with pupils. Only teachers with a minimum of 15 pupils for
Science classes, 20 for Arts and Humanities classes and a minimum of 185
contact hours with pupils will qualify for the allowance.
Progressive Teachers’ Union president Dr Takavafira Zhou
confirmed that his office has received numerous complaints from members who
have been affected by the new guidelines.
“Our office has received complaints and we feel the changes
are not palatable,” Dr Zhou said.
He added that the changes were not fair, as teachers were
applying the same effort teaching pupils regardless of the size of the classes.
Some teachers said they only got to know about the new guidelines through their
school heads upon submission of the requisition forms when schools closed last
term.
“We were told by our head that only those with a certain
number of pupils and had 185 contact hours with A-level pupils were eligible
for this allowance,” said a teacher who requested anonymity.
Another affected teacher added, “It doesn’t make any sense.
The amount of effort one puts with 10 pupils is the same put in teaching 20.
Why then should teachers with more pupils get such privileges? Besides it is
not up to the teacher to decide how many pupils they want in their class.”
The official teacher-student ratio at Advanced Level is one
teacher per 25 pupils, but some teachers in public schools have ratios as high
as 1:40.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and
Secondary Education Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango on Friday said although employment
matters were now being handled by the Civil Service Commission, her office was
not aware of the changes.
“I have not heard about any such changes. I’m actually
wondering that it is coming from the teachers. I don’t know about it,” she
said.
CSC chairperson Dr Mariyawanda Nzuwah could not be reached
for comment at the time of going to print.
However, a source in the CSC told Sunday News that the
regulations had always been there but were not being enforced.
“All along teachers would just submit forms sometimes with
fabricated figures and get paid without any questions being asked. As a result
every A-level teacher got the allowances. This term the authorities have simply
moved to implement what has already been there and the noise is understandable
because many teachers have been affected,” said the source who declined to be
named.
Meanwhile, heads from schools across the country will wear
uniforms and conduct a procession in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD)
as part of proceedings of the third edition of the Education Conference and
Expo set for end of this month.
Excerpts of minutes of a preparatory meeting for the
conference held in Harare on Tuesday last week show that all school heads will
be required to wear royal blue shirts and blouses during the procession. They
will march from Ambassador House to the Harare International Conference Centre
(HICC) where the conference will be held from 30 August to 1 September. The
procession will be led by the Mutendi High School Brass Band and Girls High
School. “Royal Blue (not sky, not navy). Ladies will wear blouses in the same
colour as shirts for men. Provinces to make logistical aspects to ensure Heads
have the regalia. On the 30th all must parade in royal blue (at the top),” the
minutes read in part, under a section written regalia.
The minutes also show that the Ministry of Primary and
Secondary Education will be tough on school heads that will send
representatives to this year’s edition of the conference. Only the head must attend.
When you send someone, it implies you are indicating that you no longer want to
be a head,” reads part of the minutes.
Permanent Secretary in the Education Ministry Dr Sylvia
Utete-Masango confirmed that school heads will wear a uniform during the procession
ahead of the conference.
Dr Utete-Masango was, however, quick to clarify that this
was not a directive from her ministry but a decision reached by the school
heads during the preparatory meeting.
“This was their decision. They said they want to show that
they are one family by wearing the same colour during the procession. Normally
provinces have their own colour codes but this time the heads decided that they
want to come in one colour, royal blue shirts for men and the same colour
blouses for ladies,” she said.
On school heads that will send representatives, Dr
Utete-Masango said, “The heads are coming, not their deputies. They (Heads)
can’t be sending deputies. Of course there are deputies that we have invited as
well as Heads of Departments (HOD) and Teachers-in- Charge (TICs) but the
target group are heads.” Sunday News
0 comments:
Post a Comment