Staff Reporter

Government yesterday announced the schools re-opening dates with examination classes set to open on 30 August 2021 while non-examination classes will re-open on 6 September 2021.

Addressing the Post Cabinet Press briefing in Harare yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said intercity movement will be allowed to ensure smooth movement of school children.

“Noting with satisfaction the preparations for the resumption of classes in schools, Cabinet is advising that schools will re-open on 30 August 2021 for examination classes, and on 6 September, 2021 for non-examination classes. As such, the inter-city and intra-city transportation for learners will be allowed during schools re-opening periods, subject to close monitoring by law enforcement agencies,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

The Minister revealed that the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry and the Health and Child Care Ministry had met with Provincial teams to evaluate progress in the implementation of the Joint Operational Plan of the Standard Guidelines for the Coordinated Prevention and Management of Covid-19 at learning institutions.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education also met with Teacher organisations and deliberated on the safe re-opening of schools,” she said.

Although Government, for several weeks, had urged parents and teachers to prepare for the opening of schools, parents who spoke to this publication said they felt ambushed, citing that the Government had given then a very short period to prepare.

“We are really surprised by the short notice given by the Government. This is surely an ambush, a day after the Government had extended a lockdown for two weeks which ordinarily entailed that the issue of schools opening would be determined after two weeks. It’s hard for us to prepare for our children’s school fees and other requirement within that short period,” said Mrs Edna Muza from Kuwadzana.

The closing date for the new term is yet to be announced.

Meanwhile Government has allowed restaurants to re-open for sit-in patrons who are fully vaccinated, subject to the production of vaccination cards and strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, as at 25 August 2021, Zimbabwe had 123 711 Covid-19 confirmed cases, including 109 498 recoveries and 4 338 deaths. To date, a total of 2 422 256 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19.