Staff Reporter

Government has amended this year’s school calendar with schools across the country set to re-open on 30 August and close on 17 December.

In a statement yesterday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mrs Tumisang Thabile said that Government resolved that the fees for the second term should be paid on a pro rata basis.

“The average length of each term is about 60 days  but this second and final session will be 80 days (30 August to 17 December 2021). The fees and levies for the second and final session 2021 will be charged on a pro rata basis given by the number of days in the final session divided by average number of days in a term multiplied by approved fees and levies for each term,” reads the statement.

In the amended calendar, schools will reopen in a phased approach with examination classes commencing on August 30 and the remaining classes resuming on September 6.  The final school term for 2021 will have 80 teaching days and 24 vacation days.

The Minister also reiterated that all learning institutions should ensure a safe, secure and healthy learning environment to protect learners and teachers from the Covid 19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa urged parents with inadequate schools fees to approach school authorities with payment plans.

The Minister, who is also Leader of Government Business in the Senate, was responding to a question from Midlands Senator Morgan Komichi who had expressed concern over what he felt was a short notice given to parents to raise fees.

“It is not easy to balance all issues that ought to be put under consideration. If parents have no fees they can approach school authorities,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Schools were supposed to have opened for the second term on 28 June but due to a spike in Covid 19 infections, Government was forced to postpone face to face learning. This year, school children will have 139 school learning days.