Many teachers have yet to return to work after the academic year was finally set to get underway on Monday, because of the fact that a number of them were unable to cash government vouchers that were issued to bring the teachers strike to an end.

Teachers were set to resume their duties after striking an informal deal with the new education ministry, which now has Senator David Coltart at its helm. An almost year-long strike by teachers over salaries and working conditions has contributed to the collapse of the education system, to such an extent that the start of the 2009 academic year has been repeatedly postponed. Teachers had been holding out for monthly salaries of US$2000 but after the Finance Ministry agreed to pacify civil servants with redeemable vouchers worth US$100 each, teachers unions informally agreed to end the strike.

The ministry was forced to make the concession to civil servants following an undeliverable promise by Morgan Tsvangirai to pay all civil servants in foreign cash by the end of February. The Prime Minister made the promise during his inauguration speech last month and pressure had been building for the government to make good on the vow. But the plan to provide redeemable vouchers has proved problematic, with many teachers not being able to cash vouchers at participating banks and shops.

The demand for foreign cash has grown significantly after the total collapse and subsequent dollarisation of the economy saw the local dollar become completely worthless. The agreement to give civil servants redeemable vouchers, on top of their usual local-currency salaries, had been greeted with caution and concern and there have since been some hitches in the program. Banks are reportedly running out of cash to honor the vouchers, while at the same time many civil servants, including teachers working in the country's rural areas, have also had trouble reaching financial institutions to cash the vouchers, which are said to be good for cash and goods.

The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe said about half of its members, mostly in schools in cities and towns, reported for duty on Monday, whereas many in rural areas stayed home as they did not have money for transport costs. At the same time the Zimbabwe Teachers Association has said most of his members have not been able to cash the vouchers and have stayed home.