By Tawanda Musariri

A snap survey carried by the Harare Post saw teachers reporting for duty in all 21 schools visited in Harare this morning. This comes against salary negotiations between teacher labour unions and their employer.

Social media has been awash with rumour about teachers not returning to work as schools open today.

Teachers who could not be named due to communications protocol at Kuwadzana 3 Primary school say the school had opened at full throttle as the full staff complement had reported for duty. The unnamed teacher said the school was welcoming both new parents and pupils who started their Early Childhood Education (ECD) and zero grade. She said although they felt that there was need for a salary raise, she said the staff complement at the school decided to give the ongoing negotiations a chance.

Another secondary school teacher in Hurungwe said her school staff complement had decided to report for duty empathising with both learners and parents. She said although there is rumour of an impending strike, her school would continue to deliver lessons to learners.

“Look here, even if we were to go on any form of job action, be it a go slow or a total downing of tools, come October, we are expected to have completed the syllabus in readiness for examinations. So it is really foolhardy for somebody who knows he has set targets to play truant with her job yet her deliverables will not change,” said the teacher.

Elsewhere in Goromonzi District, teachers are said to have reported for duty with faith that the ongoing employer-employee negotiations under the National Joint Negotiation Committee would produce favourable outcomes for both parties.

A parent who sent his form one child at Mufakose High 1 say teachers reported for duty as usual with orientation for the new learners going well.