HARARE, May 5 (NNN-IRIN) – Zimbabwe reopened schools for the second term, in hopes of restoring a normal school calendar, in which pupils will be attending classes five days a week, as COVID-19 infections and related deaths kept declining in the country over the past few months.
After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, pupils were attending classes for up to three days a week, as authorities sought to decongest classrooms and curb the spread of the virus. The COVID-19 infections and related deaths have been declining over the past few months, prompting the government to allow the schools to return to normal teaching schedules.
Pupils had a three-week break after the first term, which ended in early Apr, instead of the usual four-week holiday because the government wants to catch up on lost time during lockdowns.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson, Taungana Ndoro, told media, schools would adhere to standard operating procedures to ensure a safe environment for pupils.
“We now have a five-day school week as we are no longer alternating classes, but we will still be adhering to the standard operating procedures, to make sure that we have a safe environment for our learners,” he said.
He urged parents with children aged 12 years and above, to allow them to be vaccinated.
“The second vaccination blitz has started and we urge all parents, whose children did not get vaccinated the last term, to give their consent for their children to get the shot,” he said. “This will help us to minimise the spread of COVID-19 in schools, particularly as we are going into the winter season.”– NNN-IRIN
