Moses Madyira

Mirror Reporter

CHIKOMBA -Parents and Grade 7 teachers at Runyararo Primary School are in a ‘war’ over demands by the latter for US$10 incentives per month.

Sources told The Mirror that the demand for incentives by the teachers came particularly in light of the current teachers’ strike.

The Grade 7 teachers are arguing that theirs are exam classes and the teachers need to spend more time with children for higher pass rates. The school has two Grade 7 classes and 67 pupils.

However, some parents are arguing that they cannot afford the incentives because of the general economic hardships. They also complained that the teachers have threatened to deal with the children of those parents who fail to pay the incentives.

Chikomba Rural District Schools Inspector Emmanuel Kwenda told The Mirror that he was not aware of the issue.

“I will look into that, I haven’t heard about it yet,” said Kwenda.

A parents’ meeting 10 days ago established that 43 of the 67 pupils had paid the incentives.

School head, Mugove Zinzombe said the meeting was to discuss other issues and was not aware that there was an item to do with incentives.

“We just have to pay in order to ensure that the teachers attend to our children during this national strike by teachers. Teachers are threatening to undermine children whose parents don’t pay,” said a parent.

Runyararo SDC chairman Maxwell Makurumure said he did know the contents of the meeting.https://masvingomirror.com/