Teachers’ unions have claimed that about 200 of their members currently marking recently completed ZIMSEC examinations have tested positive for Covid-19.
The unions want the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) to stop the marking process until it is safe to continue.
Speaking to the Daily News on Monday, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president, Takavafira Zhou said:
Teachers must use their brains, and not stomachs, during these hard times. “Covid-19 is real and unless as teachers, we use our brains more than the stomach, we will be decimated.
Several teachers have reported for Zimsec marking and more than 200 teachers have now tested positive at the various marking centres across the country.
Zimsec, that has not invested in teachers’ health and safety, will simply discard those infected and hire other teachers. Our humble submission to all teachers is that life is more important than a few pieces of silver.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union president, Obert Masaraure, said Zimsec must consider the safety of teachers first and stop examination marking.
However, Zimsec spokesperson, Nicky Dhlamini, said they had not received any report of teachers testing positive.
This comes after reports which suggest that about 50 school heads had tested positive for the coronavirus across the country.
Teachers had since last year opposed the reopening of schools saying the move puts the lives of teachers and learners in danger.
A surge in coronavirus cases forced the government to suspend the start of the 2021 school calendar.
