Working in unison, ZIMTA and PTUZ combined intervention efforts to support vulnerable teachers and learners that were affected by Cyclone IDAI in 2019. Education International (E.I) provided the support during the response intervention.
During the period, teachers and pupils received counselling for mishap. With interventions from E.I teachers received medication, school based counselling and study lambs for exam classes. ZIMTA and PTUZ embarked on school feeding programmes that sought to make up for the destroyed food reserves.
As part of the long term assistance methods, the unions provided teacher education on disaster management and climate change as well as community awareness raising programmes on climate change and citizens’ rights.
Training, seminars and professional development make up the DNA of the union’s work. Educators at all levels are afforded opportunities to advance their learning opportunities and upskill themselves professionally. Unique programmes are designed from time to time to enable members in different regions to partake in.
At any given moment there are different themes for various categories of members such as the young teachers’ programmes, women programmes, leadership training programmes, professional and capacity building seminars for various structures and generally annual conferences that enable for wider participation of all. Regional programmes are organised on a need and theme basis.
In a move towards eradicating demotivation and near destitute statuses for struggling educators, ZIMTA has established several programmes that aim to alleviate housing and accommodation issues. Several of the programmes are housed under the ZIMTA provincial partnership where educators are assisted to access housing stands. The union also stands ready to assist in unforeseen disasters such as the Karoi fire disaster which saw some teaching families becoming homeless after their houses were gutted down by a veld fire. ZIMTA quickly moved in to provide temporary but decent accommodation for the affected members.
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