10-day cap for holiday lessons

Rejoyce Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter
GOVERNMENT has said schools can only conduct holiday lessons for public examination classes for a maximum of 10 days after seeking authority from educational authorities.

This is the first time that the Government has given the greenlight to schools to conduct holiday lessons since the outbreak of Covid-19 which affected learning in the country as authorities tried to control the spread of the virus.

Schools were some of the most affected institutions at the height of the deadly pandemic but measures put in place by Government resulted in most of the cases being managed.

In a circular dated August 2 seen by Chronicle and addressed to education officials, Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Mrs Tumisang Thabela said schools must follow strict Covid-19 guidelines during the holiday lessons.

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Director of Communications and Advocacy, Mr Taungana Ndoro told Chronicle that only those writing public exams at Grade 7, Ordinary Level and Advanced Level will attend lessons during the holiday.

He said all the other classes will not attend school during the holidays.

In her circular, Mrs Thabela said schools should also give pupils time to rest before conducting the lessons.

“Please note that the vacation school for candidates during this August school holiday should be held in compliance to the Standard Operating Procedures for Covid-19.

This strategy should provide an opportunity for pupils to catch–up with the syllabus demands in preparation of the summative examinations at the end of the year in view of lost times experienced during the long school closures.

Be reminded that the vacation school should be held for a maximum period of ten days being mindful of the fact that children need to rest,” she said.

Mrs Thabela said schools should budget using the zero budget principle whereby they only charge for the activities only without seeking to make profit or making a loss at the end of the day.

She said boarding school fees should be collected on a pro-rata or proportional basis.