Hive of activity as learners head back to school

BULAWAYO’S city centre came alive yesterday as hundreds of learners headed back to boarding schools, with emotional farewells, overloaded buses and parents making last-minute preparations, marking the end of the August holidays.

The City Hall parking area was packed with buses bound for schools in Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and other parts of the country, while families loaded school trunks, groceries, stationery and other essentials before waving their children goodbye ahead of today’s reopening of schools for the 2026 third term.

For Form Four and Upper Sixth learners, however, the annual back-to-school journey carried even greater significance, as they returned for what could be their final term of classroom learning before sitting for their national examinations.

Among those returning to school was John Ndlovu, a Form Four pupil preparing for the Ordinary Level examinations, who said the August holiday had provided an opportunity to consolidate work and identify areas needing more attention.

“I feel prepared, although there is still a lot of work to do. The holiday gave me time to revise some of the topics we covered in class and I also attended extra lessons,” he said.

“With the school opening, I want to be more disciplined with my study timetable. I know these are the final weeks before examinations, so I cannot afford to waste time. My target is to do my best in every subject.”

For Sibonokuhle Dlamini, an Upper Sixth learner preparing for the Advanced Level examinations, returning to school brought a mixture of anticipation and pressure.

“I am fairly confident because we have covered most of the syllabus, but the amount of revision that still needs to be done is a lot,” she said.

“I am planning to focus more on past examination papers and the topics where I am still struggling. At this stage, consistency is important because every day counts.”

Government had authorised schools to conduct supervised vacation lessons for Grade Seven, Form Four and Upper Sixth examination classes during the August holiday to improve syllabus coverage and learner preparedness.

The 10-day programme ran from August 7 to 20, with primary schools permitted to charge US$2 per learning area, secondary schools US$3 per subject and Upper Sixth learners US$5 per subject. Boarders paid an additional US$5 for upkeep.

Parents said they were hopeful the additional lessons would give examination classes an advantage as they entered the final stretch of the academic year.

Mr Ndodana Mnisi, whose daughter attends a boarding school and is preparing for her final Ordinary Level examinations, said she had spent almost two weeks at school during the holiday attending extra lessons.

“My daughter spent close to two weeks back at her school doing extra lessons in preparation for her O-Level examinations. I hope the extra lessons will pay off and I wish her all the best in her final examinations,” he said.

Parents were also busy ensuring their children had everything needed for the final school term.

The City Hall and OK Mart areas are the city’s main pick-up points for boarding school learners.

However, buses were redirected from OK Mart yesterday because of ongoing roadworks.

Mr Siphiwe Dube, whose son attends Thekwane High School in Plumtree, said the change of pick-up point disrupted a routine his family had followed for the past three years.

“For the last three years, every opening and closing day, I have dropped off and picked up my son at OK Mart, but this time we were asked to come to City Hall,” he said.

“Driving in and out of the OK Mart parking area would have been a nightmare for the bus drivers because of the roadworks next to the shopping mall main gate.”

At City Hall, Bulawayo City Council employees worked through the morning directing buses in and out of the parking area to keep traffic moving and prevent overcrowding.

Empty buses were kept outside the parking area while learners boarded those already inside. Once loaded, buses left within minutes to make way for others.

For some parents, the return to school was also a reminder of the financial demands that come with each new term.

Mrs Roselyne Moyo, whose daughter attends Matopo High School, said preparations for the third term were less costly than at the beginning of the year because most of the school uniform was still in good condition.

“At this time of the year, the summer school uniforms are still in good condition because last term my daughter was using her winter uniform. I just needed to add a few extra pairs of socks and other minor things,” she said.

“Stationery and groceries were the major requirements that needed a significant amount of money.”
Amid the back-to-school rush, police officers were also deployed at major pick-up points, where they conducted awareness campaigns warning parents and learners about drug peddlers.

Police warned that cases of learners being caught at schools with drugs and other illegal substances were increasing, with some of the contraband reportedly traced to pick-up points where peddlers target learners.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged motorists, public transport operators and parents to prioritise the safety of learners as schools reopen across the country.

He said parents and schools should ensure that children travelled in safe and roadworthy vehicles.

“Parents, guardians and school authorities should ensure that children use safe and reliable transport. Where possible, learners should avoid travelling at night, while vehicles hired to transport them should be roadworthy and suitable for carrying passengers,” he said.

Police also warned drivers against overloading, carrying learners alongside goods and luggage in unsafe conditions, speeding, reckless overtaking and negligent driving.

Drivers were further urged not to drive under the influence of alcohol or dangerous drugs.