Teachers in Xai-Xai going back to work after a week-long strike

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Teachers in Xai-Xai going back to work after a week-long strike

8:00 CAT | 12 Oct 2017

DW (File photo)

A significant number of the 500 or so teachers in secondary and technical-vocational schools in Xai-Xai, Gaza province, returned to work on Monday after a strike last week over overtime and second shift arrears dating back to 2015.

The resumption of classes happened after meetings between the teachers and members of the provincial government.

Investigations by DM found some teachers teaching, but the majority of the classrooms had only students studying in small groups.

Teachers told DM that they had decided to return to work in the expectation that the government honour “in the next few hours” commitments made during the meetings that last week’s strike triggered.

“But if the government thinks it can deceive us, just to get us back in the classrooms, then we do not take responsibility for the consequences that may arise,” a Joaquim Chissano Secondary School teachers said, speaking anonymously.

“In the early hours there was a certain fear, one or two teachers was at the school, but shortly afterwards the number of teachers increased. In fact, there are still a lot of teachers missing – more than half of them – but we hope that by tomorrow (Tuesday, October 10) all our colleagues will be back in the classrooms,” a Xai-Xai Secondary School teacher added.

The government’s Education and Human Development sector owes about 7,200 teachers in in Gaza province more than 130 million meticais relating to overtime and factor 1.5 (second shifts) payments.

Chongoene, Limpopo, Xai-Xai, Chibuto and Chókwè saw thw the worst strikes, and on Monday Mandlakazi joined this group through the Samora Machel Secondary School, located a few metres from the municipal village local.

In the circumstances, students have been spending their days playing at a time when the final exams for 10th and 12th grade students are approaching. If it persists, the strike will jeopardise the chances of students in these grades.

Source: Diário de Moçambique