By Parliamentary Correspondent
Responding to questions related to poor service and living conditions of teachers in Parliament this Tuesday, Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda highlighted that the futuristic PTC when established would likely address these challenges.
With the teachers currently calling for review of their salaries sighting their poor service and living conditions, the questions were raised as Opposition MP for Chinhoyi Central, Leslie Mhangwa felt the plight of teachers who contributed emensely to every profession’s development need to be reconsidered.
“I have buried, in my constituency, more than three to four senior educators and in each case, there was a struggle before the death, to raise medical bills. Indeed, it is sad for such people who have given themselves to us as a people. I rise to speak on the plight of the teacher as we sing celebratory messages and send our well-wishes to the teachers, especially in this examination season.” Mhangwa said.
Furthermore, “It is my plea that we go back and introspect, the type of teacher we used to have in the 90s and 70s. I visited the school Mr. Speaker Sir, where a teacher said, how can the children respect me when I turn into a vendor during break time?” Mhangwa added. Mhangwa called for a turn in the tables of teacher’s as they were a backbone of society and professional development.
“The teacher further asked the Member of Parliament that if you could ask the male teachers to remove their shoes, their socks will tell a sad story.Mr. Speaker Sir, it is on this platform that I stand to plead for the teacher. The teacher needs to be seen. The teacher needs his status reinstated. We all came from teachers, some of us even from families of teachers for us to be what we are today. It is imperative in this House that the plight of the teacher be seen and justice done.” Mhangwa said.
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda highlighted that the PTC a professional body that government would soon launch will enhance the redress of the plight of the teacher’s and forwarded the issue to the Ministry’s of education in government.
“Thank you very much Hon. Mhangwa. It is our hope that the Professional Teacher’s Council, once established, I think will be another instrument which Government will use to have some compensation on issues like the ones you raise. Meanwhile, we will forward the matter to the two Ministers of Education on the plight of teachers and their status.”Mudenda said.
The message comes as Zimbabwe commemorates world teacher’s day, an event that saw teacher’s airing their plight and calling for a massive salary increase to improve there living and social standing.