(Last Updated on March 12, 2021 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – The government has cautioned all schools to follow the recently published national school calendar following reports that the Association of Trust Schools (ATS) which is made up of private schools had their own calendar for the year.
After physical learning was again disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has issued a compressed calendar following the order that physical classes can now resume.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Tumisang Thabela has issued a statement advising stakeholders that only the ministry is authorised to draw up the school calendar.
“It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education that there are claims that the Association of Trust Schools (ATS) has it’s own 2021 calendar.
“The Ministry takes this opportunity to advise it’s valued learners, parents, guardians, teachers and other stakeholders that in terms of the Education(Non-Government Schools) Regulations of 2005, section 9(1): ‘The Secretary shall prepare the annual school calendar to determine the days during each term when pupils shall be required to attend school for instruction,” read the statement from Thabela.
She warned that any deviation from the calendar announced by the government will result in penalties for the offenders who risk being de-registered.