Zimbabwe schools begin fightback

Ndlovu is one of the teachers who did not join the exodus. "In any normal situation when others go out, definitely others have to remain. There is no way we can all of us just go out.

"Those who are remaining, we are just hoping that things will be better. It is not because things are better for us but we just feel we need to teach these kids ... to become something in the world."

Zimbabwe's unity government has managed to get some striking teachers back into classrooms by offering them an improved wage of $150 a month, but that is hardly a living wage.

"If you can pay your rent, pay your bills here and there and then you are able to come back to school. We just do that," Ndlovu says.

"We cannot all go out and leave Zimbabwe empty without teachers. Those who are outside understand that we are playing a significant role because some of them left their kids behind. They definitely know they are being taken care of, we are teaching them."

The education minister said he was allocated one-tenth of the budget he needs to rebuild Zimbabwe's education system.

He is hoping donors will come to his country's aid. According to his estimates, it could take up to 10 years to get Zimbabwe's education system to where it was in the early 90's.

And he understands that he will only be able to achieve this if he can retain committed civil servants like Ndlovu.