The school calendar has not changed despite COVID-19 outbreaks: Govt

The school calendar has not changed despite COVID-19 outbreaks: Govt

By Letwin Mubonesi

Primary and Secondary Education minister, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu yesterday said school calendar has not changed despite sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks at some schools.

The schools will remain open until end of term on December 17, saying the COVID-19 situation is now under control.

Speaking at the official handover of 100 000 washable masks by the Biomedical Research and Training Institute meant for schools in Harare, Ndlovu urged all learners to adhere to the standard operating procedures set by the World Health Organisation.

She said, “Yes, we have recorded cases in schools, but we have managed to contain them and schools will continue as earlier announced. Children are actually in the middle of examinations as we speak. We continue urging all learners to adhere to the SOPs [standard operating procedures] set by the WHO [World Health Organisation].”

Harare’s elite school, Eaglesvale Primary, suspended lessons after one pupil tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

School authorities informed other parents of the incident and that as a precautionary measure they had decided to suspend lessons with immediate effect but grade 7 continue to come to school until they finish their examinations.

This month as COVID-19 statistics began to soar again in the country, several learning institutions, including Masvingo Teachers’ College, recorded high infection figures as it recorded more than 100 new infections last week.

The rise in confirmed cases has sent panic waves in schools, with a number of private boarding schools shutting down but the minister said the term will last till December 17.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association president Richard Gundane said his association is worried about the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in schools.

“From the union side, we are very worried about the increasing cases of COVID-19 across the country. Our wish is for protection of teachers and pupils from the pandemic,” he said.

A daily update from Health and Child Care ministry situational report released yesterday showed that Zimbabwe had a cumulative 139 046 confirmed cases, with 128 868 recoveries and 4 710 deaths.