HARARE – The government was accused of an “ambush” on Wednesday after announcing that schools will re-open for the second term on August 30 – a day after a Covid-19 lockdown was extended by a further two weeks.
Examination classes will return to school first on August 30, with the rest of the classes returning to classes on September 6, ministers said following a cabinet meeting.
The Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe blasted: “Parents, teachers and learners have all been ambushed. Who has a stash of money just lying around to be used for fees or bus fare back to work? The government may be ready, but no-one else is.”
Norton MP Temba Mliswa accused the government of shambolic planning.
He wrote on Twitter: “The government just announces five days before that schools are opening. Is this even practical for parents and all involved? You can’t run a country by unilateral decrees. Is this a race to just have exams written or what?”
Schools had been expected to open for the second term on June 28 – but a surge in Covid-19 infections led to an indefinite postponement.
The third wave of infections has ebbed, and the government hopes schools can now safely re-open.
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa did not say how long the second term would be, but the ministry of primary and secondary education recently hinted that schools could remain open until Christmas – effectively combining the second and third terms.
