Govt speaks on reopening of schools In September
Zimbabwe’s government has spoken on reports that schools will reopen in September for examination classes.
The country’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education released a statement Tuesday saying that schools will remain closed until further notice.
The Ministry warned that any school which reopens during this period shall be in violation of the law and may face criminal charges.
The statement reads:
Contrary to misleading social media reports that schools will reopen on 2 September 2020 or 15 September 2020 for examination classes, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to reiterate to its valued stakeholders that the Government deferred the re-opening of schools until further notice.
Government is currently in widespread consultations and will only announce any schools re-opening date once Cabinet has taken a position.
It is in this light that the Ministry advises all schools remain closed until a Government directive on re-opening is issued.
Any school that defies the order to remain closed during this lockdown period shall be in violation of the law and may face criminal charges.
Our valued stakeholders need to be advised that the Ministry continues to prioritise health and safety as it strives to provide equitable, quality, inclusive, relevant and competence driven Primary, Secondary and Non-formal education at all times.
Savanna News recently published a statement by Secretary for Information Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana who dismissed reports that Zimsec November exams would go ahead as planned.
There are reports that after a Cabinet meeting last Tuesday, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said that primary and secondary final year students were supposed to sit for their final examinations in November and December as planned, despite the fact that learners were last in school on 24 March 2020.
The news report states that Mutsvangwa said the guidelines which were used for the Zimsec exams in June will be used for the final exams in November/December.