By A Correspondent- Teacher unions yesterday claimed that about 50 headmasters and several teachers tested positive to COVID-19 when schools reopened on Monday for examination classes.
Zimbabwe went on a strict lockdown on Tuesday to control the spread of COVID-19, but schools reopened to examination classes.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou said over 50 school heads across the country were infected while the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu also confirmed reports of the virus hitting school heads, learners and teachers.
The unions blamed the government for failure to put in place adequate measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
“As of yesterday, more than 50 school heads across the country tested positive to COVID-19, while several other teachers and pupils are vulnerable. The ministry has not come up with a robust approach to COVID-19, thereby leaving teachers and pupils vulnerable,” Zhou said.
“Indeed, 2020 must best be remembered as a wasted year in terms of starvation wages educators received and the failure to prioritise the health and safety of teachers and pupils. But if anything, 2021 may be worse.”
He added that given the crisis, it was advisable that teachers stay at home in “prioritisation of the health and safety of teachers and pupils”.
“We, hereby, advise teachers to stay at home and save their lives. There is no life after death and those that require the services of teachers must also invest in their welfare, health and safety. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”
Ndlovu confirmed the soaring cases of teachers testing positive for COVID-19, saying it was ill-advised to open schools when the country was recording a surge in new infections.