ZIMTA PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATION

1. ZIMTAPUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATION

2. Highlights of the ZIMTA Communication and outreach channels are: • 1. The ZIMTA Magazine • 2. Bi-Termly Newsletter • 3. The ZIMTA website: www.zimta.org.zw. • 4. The ZIMTA FacebookPage: • 5. ZIMTA Twitter Page: @ZIMTA01 • 6 ZIMTA You Tube: Zimteachers • 7. ZIMTA SMS Platform • 8. Print Media • 9. Electronic Media • 10. National Events, World Teachers’ Day, Global Action Week

3. The Public Relations Department The re-establishment of the ZIMTA Public Relations department has brought a number of benefits to ZIMTA as it has now made communication in ZIMTA much easier and a lot faster. Communication amongst ZIMTA members has been increasing over the years with an increasing number of field trips or outreach programs carried out by ZIMTA Officers. Outreach or field visits and programs have helped in re-building the ZIMTA branding allowing for the true ZIMTA image to be portrayed more clearly to ZIMTA’s loyal membership and also to the aspiring members.

5. 1. The ZIMTA Magazine The Teachers’ Voice Magazine, has been well received by many because of its new look and content. The new content covers issues on campaigns done by ZIMTA, the training programs and results achieved on legal issues and how they apply to members and the education sector. Empowerment of members is crucial and ZIMTA believes that information sharing is part of the empowerment process. The teachers’ magazine is produced once every term. Production of the magazine is partly funded by ZIMTA’s cooperating partner Lararforbundet. The current challenge regarding the distribution of ZIMTA magazines is that distribution of copies only covers up to 75percent of the membership. The dream is to ensure that the magazine gets wider distribution amongst the membership and to all stakeholders by 2015. The magazine has also attracted a substantial amount of adverts, a positive development for ZIMTA as this supplements revenue for the publication. The membership is encouraged to also channel communication through the ZIMTA magazine, and this can be done through the letters to the Editor Column.

6. 2. The Newsletter • The Newsletter is also produced in partnership with the cooperating international partner Lararforbundet. Unlike the Magazine, the Newsletter is more frequent in its production as it is produced twice per term. • At least 40 thousand copies of the ZIMTA Newsletter are produced twice per term, with the aim of ensuring that every member gets a copy. • Issues contained in the newsletters are generally meant to be used during the branch, district, provincial and sometimes national meetings to inform the agenda and discourse during meetings. • An online version of the ZIMTA Newsletter is also available for those with access to internet. It is easily downloaded for use by individuals or groups which might want to be informed of national issues or developments in the Union; however it should be noted that members have access to this e- Newsletterasit is available in the members’section only of the website.

7. 3. The ZIMTA Website: www.zimta.org.zw • The ZIMTA website has been re-launched with emphasis put on the corporate colors of the institution and on relevant and up-to –date content. • The ZIMTA website www.zimta.org.zw, is an interactive website offering many opportunities to members and non- members to familiarize themselves with the Union and its activities. • The website has a public section and a member’s only section. The members’ only section has unique features and classified information that should only be accessed by members hence it asks members to log in to access information. • This section is mostly interactive and goes on to offer teaching resources for teachers and students through an online training link called Share My Lesson. This , is an on- line training link which has been provided by ZIMTA’s international partner, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). • According to Google Analytics Statistics of ZIMTA members visiting the website are still low, but are expected to increase as more members gain increased access to internet and become more aware of its functions.

9. 4. The ZIMTA Facebook Page:Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association • As at 30 May 2013, the ZIMTA Facebook Page had recorded 772 likes. The total number of likes is the number of people who have liked and therefore have access to the Page. They may also post their comments or just enjoy reading the messages without necessarily commenting on any news. • On the total number of people reached, the page showed that of the total, there were more males and less females engaging in discussions on the Facebook Page. • This shows that fewer females in ZIMTA are using the social networking platforms to communicate or participate in discussions that take place on that forum

11. 5. The Twitter Page;@ZIMTA01 • On twitter, teachers post short messages called tweets. When ZIMTA tweets, it give out information and other organizations or individuals read what we post, and if they think it’s interesting or helpful they will follow us. ZIMTA has been tweeting and as at 30 May 2013, ZIMTA had tweeted 503 tweets. It had a total of 123 followers and it is following 219 individuals and organizations. ZIMTA is in the process of building awareness on the use of twitter to teachers and encouraging them to participate. • ZIMTA’s dream is to get all its members following it on twitter. Some of the ZIMTA Twitter followers have been engaging ZIMTA in conversations seeking to get more information or to understand the nature of messages posted, it is also encouraging to see teachers engaging each other on the same platform in direct conversion about issues that affect them in the line of duty. ZIMTA has noted the presence of young teachers on its twitter network who have been engaging each other in direct conversation and that is commendable.

13. 6. You Tube- Zimteachers • ZIMTA has not yet posted videos on you tube, but it is working on ensuring that ZIMTA activities are videotaped and broadcast on you-tube.

14. 7. ZIMTA SMS Platform • Following a recent cleanup of the systems and the database, about 15 000 ZIMTA members have remained on the ZIMTA SMS platform. • This platform is used by ZIMTA to deliver critical information such as results of negotiations, updates on Union activities and also to mobilize members during huge campaigns such as strikes or celebrations of the World Teachers’ day. • The SMS platform is one of the most effective means of communication in ZIMTA as members tend to receive and share information fast in a school environment. The messages are discussed during tea breaks and members tend to forward these to fellow teachers in a short space of time.

15. 7. ZIMTA SMS Platform • Following a recent cleanup of the systems and the database, about 15 000 ZIMTA members have remained on the ZIMTA SMS platform. • This platform is used by ZIMTA to deliver critical information such as results of negotiations, updates on Union activities and also to mobilize members during huge campaigns such as strikes or celebrations of the World Teachers’ day. • The SMS platform is one of the most effective means of communication in ZIMTA as members tend to receive and share information fast in a school environment. The messages are discussed during tea breaks and members tend to forward these to fellow teachers in a short space of time.

17. 8. The Print Media • Appearance of ZIMTA’s activities and officials in the press has been quite frequent and consistent. It appears more journalists are now willing to cover the ZIMTA activities through interviews with Union officials. • ZIMTA has been consulted on issues affecting the welfare of civil servants and living conditions, a welcome development in the print media as this gives ZIMTA the opportunity to defend the rights of the teachers and the workers in general.

18. 9. Electronic Media • In the electronic media, ZIMTA executives such the President, the Secretary General and the Chief Executive Officer, appeared on programs such as, ZBC’s News hour, the SFM talk show, the Morning Grill, the Melting Pot, Power FM’s Power Talk, the Zimpapers radio talk show, Star FM talk show and ZFM radio talk shows. • From January to December the recorded evidence showed that the electronic media has constantly recognized the presence of a strong Union and it has sought its opinion on crucial matters. • The evidence above showed that ZIMTA’s media relations improved to a large extent in 2012, and there is need to harness the relations by continuing to remain relevant and advocating for issues that are close to its mandate, such as the welfare of the workers, engaging in debates that aim to improve salaries and incomes of civil servants and advocating for quality public education for all.

19. 10. World Teachers’ Day • The World Teachers’ day was celebrated on the 5th of October in all the ten ZIMTA provinces. The ZIMTA President attended the Midlands Province celebrations where she delivered her speech. Hundreds also celebrated the event successfully in their various provinces and ZIMTA intends to keep up the momentum where many teachers turn up to mark this internationally recognized event.