The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president, Takavafira Zhou says government needs to take measures against boarding schools that have increased school fees by over 200 percent. Zhou told Hevoi FM News that the newly set school fees will make it difficult for parents who are struggling to make ends meet. “We are calling on government to revisit the issue of boarding schools whose fees are now ranging from between $75 000 to $120 000.What this means is that most parents particularly teachers who are receiving meager salaries will not be able to pay school fees, “said Zhou. Zhou added that government must ensure that school fees hikes need to tally with teachers’ earnings. “Government must not allow a situation where schools increase school fees that are beyond the reach of teachers or civil servants’ salaries. This is now a security threat that needs to be urgently addressed,”he said. Teachers are demanding that government awards them salaries in US dollars to cushion them from the high cost of living in light of the inflationary environment prevailing in the country. Government say it will now pay civil servants a COVID-19 risk allowance starting January 2022. Under the scheme, the rest of the civil service will get US$75, while pensioners will be getting US$30, all in hard cash. But some teachers organizations have rejected the offer saying government needs to pay salaries in US dollars.
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