Teachers cut to three-day week over pay

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) announced that members will report for duty only three days a week, reserving two days for side hustles, citing government failure to address deteriorating salaries and working conditions. In a notice to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the union escalated a long-running dispute over public sector wages, as teachers earn as little as US$150 monthly. The unprecedented industrial action disrupts education nationwide and could spread to other sectors. Education stakeholders warn the move will deepen teacher attrition and learning losses, especially in rural areas facing staff shortages. The decision marks a significant escalation in the labour crisis, with potential ripple effects across the economy. The government has yet to respond to the union's demands, raising the prospect of prolonged disruption. The core vulnerability: the education system faces collapse as teacher attrition and low morale deepen a human capital crisis.