HON. E. MOYO: The issue of salaries has, to a greater extent, been addressed. Yes, there are gaps here and there. It may not be very prudent for me to discuss the issue of salaries because it does not fall within the Ministry’s purview but let me just give an indication that of the demand which was presented in January, it was further improved last week as per the announcement that you all heard. The variance between the demand and what was offered in USD terms was about US$10.
The issue of school fees which was another issue not raised this year in January, but it has always been on the table. Government then saw it fit to kick it in so that three children of each teaching family could benefit up to Z$20 000 per child. So, the issue of salaries, to a large extent as I indicated earlier, has been addressed. I may not go into talk about other issues that are peripheral to the issue of salaries because those who attend NJC have already acknowledged what Government has given and they have advised members to go back to work.
However, we have others who are not at NJC and for whatever reason, they seem to be declining but bigger organisations have agreed that members go back to work because their demands have largely been met.
*HON. SEN. SHUMBA: I heard that there are percentages on the number of teachers that have gone back to work. I would like to know if there is a way of monitoring whether…..
THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF SENATE: Order, may you raise your voice so that everyone can hear you.
*HON. SEN. SHUMBA: Thank you Madam President. Is there a mechanism of monitoring the teachers’ attendance and whether they are working or not?
HON. E. MOYO: The issue of monitoring attendance is one area that the Ministry is currently strengthening. We have our Provincial Education Directors, District Schools Inspectors and Schools Inspectors on the ground going around monitoring. However, the handicap that we currently have is transport. The Ministry does not have sufficient vehicles to conduct the monitoring.
However, we are encouraging our SDCs to give us information on what is obtaining in their schools. We are also encouraging our Hon. Members to also do some monitoring in their areas and also assist us by giving that information as to what is happening at the schools so that we can get our schools to function normally. At the moment, we have capacitated our different structures in the hierarchy of the Ministry to do the monitoring but we would also want to ask the whole of Government to kick in so that all agencies of Government do the monitoring and also give us feedback on what is happening on the ground.
You will appreciate that education is one of the biggest sector in the country with over 10 500 schools, hence requires huge resource outlets to ensure that effective monitoring takes place. It takes all of us to go into the field to assist in ensuring that education takes place. I thank you.
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