by Staff Reporter
The Government has set the 15th of March 2021 as the schools opening date for examination classes while the rest will open on 22nd March 2021.
This was announced by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa during a Post Cabinet Press Briefing in the capital yesterday.
Minister Mutsvangwa revealed that Cabinet announced that the school calendar for 2021 starts on a slightly phased approach, with teachers for examination classes reporting for duty on 10th of March, and the rest on 17th March, 2021.
“In the education sector, schools must prepare to open and put in place measures which observe the World Health Organisation Protocols and National COVID-19 Guidelines. Virtual learning or long distance learning is encouraged where possible,” she said.
“There shall be rotational school attendance in classes where learners cannot exercise social distancing. On the days when learners are not at school, they will be engaged through strategies such as Open Distance Learning and e-learning. Relevant modules are already under production. Among the catch-up strategies, all continuing classes will start with 2020 work. Syllabi have been compressed to facilitate accelerated coverage. Both Primary and Secondary school levels will follow three levels of accelerated compressed syllabus coverage,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa added that universities and colleges must also prepare to open and ensure compliance with the WHO protocols and National COVID-19 guidelines. Virtual learning or long distance learning is encouraged where possible.
“Non compliance to the above requirements will attract targeted closures of the respective institutions,” she warned.
Meanwhile parents have welcomed the opening of schools saying that although online teaching was going on well, children were now tired of learning from home.
“Reopening of schools is a good decision. These kids are young and very active especially primary school kids, they have been at home for a long time now and they were now bored. They need their teachers for guidance and close monitoring,” said Mr George Hungwe from Kuwadzana.
Cabinet was also informed that as at 1st of March 2021, Zimbabwe’s cumulative COVID-19 cases stood at 36 115, with 32 905 recoveries and 1 463 deaths.
It was noted that the COVID-19 cases are declining, a trend attributable to preventive measures being enforced across the country.
