Government has raised student teacher allowances from ZWL$157 (US$1.50) to ZWL9.049 (US$90) with effect from this month.
The student teachers who are on attachment will also receive the US$75 Covid-19 risk allowance paid to all other civil servants, the Public Service Commission announced.
In a letter addressed to the Salary Service Bureau, Public Service Commission Secretary, Jonathan Wutawunashe, said the commission with the Ministry of Finance had agreed to give the student teachers a pay rise.
“The PSC has approved with Treasury concurrence an increase on teacher allowances from Z$157 to the bottom salary step of Grace C4, currently at Z$9,049 (total package) as at 01 November 2020 Salary key-Scale,” he said in the letter dated April 7, 2021.
Wutawunashe said the finance ministry had also extended the Covid-19 risk allowance, introduced last year and paid to civil servants to the student teachers.
“Regarding the US$75 Covid-19 Allowance Treasury concurred that it should be extended to Student Teachers as well, during the time of teaching practice and it should be paid concurrently with their monthly allowances in local currency after converting it at the prevailing auction exchange rate on the date of payment,” said the PSC secretary.
He also added: “The general manager for payroll management is advised to pay both the student teacher allowance and extend the US$75 Covid-19 allowance to student teachers with effect from April 1, 2021.”
Some teachers work less than the five days while it was also reported that in some cases, only 50 percent turn up for work.
The teachers are citing incapacitation and are demanding that they paid in US dollars.
In 2018, teachers used to be paid in US dollars and the lowest paid civil servant in October earned US$540 while student teacher allowances used to be US$150.
The highest paid teachers now, currently receive a salary of Z$22 000 (US$220).
