Bring back incentives: Zimta

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ZIMBABWE Teachers’ Association (Zimta) has described last year’s school-leaving examinations as some of the worst in the country, warning the trend was likely to continue due to the government’s refusal to grant teachers incentives.

ZIMBABWE Teachers’ Association (Zimta) has described last year’s school-leaving examinations as some of the worst in the country, warning the trend was likely to continue due to the government’s refusal to grant teachers incentives. PRIVILEGE SHOKO OWN CORRESPONDENT

Teachers’ unions had negotiated with the Primary and Secondary Education ministry to allow parents and guardians to pay incentives as a way of retaining teachers, who complained of poor salaries.

On Friday, Zimta chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu said the government’s refusal to grant teachers incentives would lead to low pass rates.

“The ministry’s refusal to grant teachers incentives would affect Zimbabwe’s pass rate as the teachers are no longer motivated to teach because these incentives helped them a lot,” he said.

According to Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council statics, the national pass rate for Grade 7 was 32,2%, ‘O’ Level 20,72% and ‘A’ Level was 81,6%.

Ndlovu urged teachers to work hard iregardless of the issue of incentives and lead children to success.

“I encourage the teachers to lead children to success and they should not kill the future of children as the future is in their hands,” he said.

Ndlovu said as Zimta, they would continue fighting for the teachers’ rights and ensure that the parent ministry improved working conditions.

However, the Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora disputed claims that incentives had a bearing on the pass rate.

“I do not see how the issue of incentives would reduce the pass rate of Zimbabwe because when the teachers were being given incentives the pass rate never improved,” he said.