Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has warned that schools that compel learners to attend holiday lessons will face penalties.
According to the ministry, Government inspectors would continue monitoring compliance to ensure vacation lessons support examination candidates without compromising learners’ need for rest during school holidays.
In an interview, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Cde Torerayi Moyo, said only examination classes were authorised to attend vacation lessons during the August holiday.
“It’s prudent that learners get time to rest,” he said.
Minister Moyo said for the 2026 school year, the ministry approved vacation classes for Grade 7, Form 4 and Form 6 learners preparing for public examinations in November.
He said the approved lessons were scheduled for 10 days, from August 7 to 20.
Fees were capped at US$2 for Grade 7, US$3 for Form 4 and US$5 for Form 6, or the equivalent in Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) at the prevailing bank rate.
However some boarding schools were allegedly demanding a payment of between US$150 to US$200 for the two weeks for “O” and “A” level classes.
For primary classes, some schools were demanding between US$25 to US$ 60 for the two weeks duration.
Minister Moyo said the ministry was concerned that some schools were disregarding the regulations and keeping learners in class throughout the holidays.
“We are disturbed by the developments happening in our schools, particularly during the holidays,” he said.
Moyo said the ministry’s Circular Number 7 of 2026 only permits holiday lessons for learners sitting public examinations in November.
“We have observed that if students attend classes continuously without any breaks, they are likely to be affected mentally and psychologically, and the result is that they become fatigued,” he said.
Minister Moyo said the problem was affecting both rural and urban schools, with some private institutions allegedly pressuring parents and learners to attend holiday lessons.
“We have observed that most schools in both rural and urban areas are not giving learners time to rest. They are defying Government regulations on the importance of learners having time to be with their parents, particularly during school holidays,” he said.
Minister Moyo said the directive was mandatory and warned that schools that breach Government policy would face action.
“We’re issuing a directive that any school that is defiant of government policy will be penalised.
“The only classes that are supposed to attend holiday lessons in August are those sitting their final examinations,” Minister Moyo said.
