THE Ministries of General and Higher Education have announced that non examination classes of primary, secondary and all learning institutions will reopen on 21, September 2020.
Addressing journalists at a media briefing in Lusaka today, General Education minister who also doubles as acting Minister of Higher Education, Dennis Wanchinga clarified that parents should have ample time to prepare children for school in line with the President Edgar Lungu’s directive for the reopening of the schools between September 14 and 28, 2020.
He said as directed, all examination classes under general education would open on September 14, 2020.
“The reopening of schools, colleges and universities and other institutions under TEVET will have to abide by strict adherence to the health guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health. Our managers of these institutions must provide proper leadership in ensuring that such learning institutions are safe for our children.
“The dates for reopening these institutions shall be as follows: Examination classes under General Education; All examination classes for primary and secondary schools and third year students in colleges of education will reopen on Monday 14 September 2020 as scheduled,” Wanchinga said.
“Non- examination classes under General Education; In order to give ample time for parents to prepare children in non- examination classes for primary and secondary schools as well as colleges of education, these will reopen on Monday 21 September 2020.”
Wanchinga further urged all school authorities to work with health officials, parents, and the community to ensure that there was strict adherence to the guidelines provided by both the Ministry of Health and the Ministries in charge education.
He encouraged parents to adequately prepare their children by providing them with face masks and to pay school fees in full in order to facilitate for effective teaching and learning.
Wanchinga said further guidance on the school calendar would be provided in due course.
“In cases where parents may be experiencing financial challenges I wish to urge our learning institutions to engage parents and learners to make payment plans and accept payments in instalments. In certain instances, especially in our rural schools where cash payments may be a challenge, payments in kind should be considered so that no learners are sent away from schools,” he said.
“In order to sustain the availability of face masks, school authorities in collaboration with the parents should should work together and ensure that face masks are provided to the learners all the time. I also wish to direct our learning Institutions to effectively and efficiently make adequate arrangements to cover the material that was lost during the closure without compromising quality.”
©Kalemba September 12, 2020
