(Last Updated on March 2, 2021 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – Schools will re-open on 15 March for examination classes while the rest of the students will open a week after, government has said.
Following the decline of Covid-19 cases and the subsequent relaxation of the lockdown regulations, schools have been ordered to ramp up preparations for the presumption of physical learning.
In a post-cabinet brief on Tuesday, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said exam classes are set to open on the 15th of March while the rest of the classes will resume on 22 March.
“Teachers for examination classes should report for duty on March 10 and the rest of the teachers on March 17,” Mutsvangwa said.
The Minister said attendance will have to be rotated in cases where learning space does not allow proper observation of the WHO and government measures.
“There shall be rotational school attendances in classes where learners cannot exercise social distancing. On days when children are not at school, learners would be engaged through strategies such as open distance learning and e-learning. Relevant modules are already in production,” she added.
While the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted learning for the greater part of 2020 and the impact was seen through the latest Grade 7 results, teacher:s unions have called on the authorities to ensure that adequate preparations are done before schools are re-opened.
Last year, some schools were forced to abruptly close again after Covid-19 cases spiked.
They also demanded the government to commit to improving their welfare.
“We are ready to go back to work and do our duty. However, whether teachers and learners open schools at the same time will depend on the government and its demonstrable commitment to the improvement of our welfare,” Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe said earlier today.
Teachers last year declared themselves incapacitated which resulted in most of the teachers not reporting for duty defying government orders.