HARARE – Zimbabwe will re-open schools in two phases on March 15 and March 22 after coronavirus cases declined.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told reporters following a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that exam classes – Grade 7, Form 4 and Upper Sixth – would open first on March 15, before all other grades a week later.

Zimbabwe on Monday eased a coronavirus lockdown and overnight curfew imposed in January by allowing businesses to fully re-open after the rate of new infections slowed in the last two weeks.

Infections peaked in January, forcing the government to close or limit most businesses as well as curb the movement of people. Schools, which closed in mid-December, had not re-opened for the first term.

On Monday, the country recorded only 26 new infections and five Covid-19 related deaths.

“Teachers for examination classes should report for duty on March 10 and the rest of the teachers on March 17,” Mutsvangwa said.

“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.”

Mutsvangwa said owing to widespread disruptions experienced in schools last year “all continuing classes will start with 2020 work.” She said syllabus had been “compressed to facilitate accelerated coverage.”

Teachers’ unions have threatened strikes over unfulfilled promises of a pay increase that would restore them to October 2018 salary levels of US$520.

The Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe said: “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.”

In a statement, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe also demanded that “all willing adults” at schools should be vaccinated before schools can open.

Zimbabwe last month began Covid-19 vaccinations after receiving a donation of 200,000 doses from the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm).

Zimbabwe has purchased 600,000 more doses that it expects this month from Sinopharm, which is donating another 200,000 doses. Mnangagwa announced that some Chinese businesses had pledged a further 1.2 million doses.

Zimbabwe had as of Monday reported 36,115 Covid-19 cases and 1,468 deaths, a majority of which have been recorded this year.