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Muchaneta Chimuka
Senior Reporter
Schools reopen in phases between March 15 and 22 with parents now beginning to prepare their children for the much awaited return to class.
Most parents say they are educating their children on how to stay safe around their classmates and when on their way to school.
Parents interviewed by The Herald said they are taking serious precautionary health measures.
Mrs Moreen Gumbavaranda of Glen View 7 in Harare said her two children learn at a boarding school and she wants to ensure they are safe when out of her sight.
“I have been educating them on the proper way to wash their hands with soap and clean water after visiting the toilets or whenever they touch surfaces. I have also taught my kids to avoid crowding.
“As you know that in the previous term several boarding schools were the most affected,” said Mrs Gumbavaranda.
She revealed that she is teaching her children on how to wash their clothes ironing and avoid mixing them up with their peers’ and to avoid sharing beds.
Mr Rodrick Ncube of Chitungwiza said his children are still primary school and he has been emphasising on handwashing.
“Young kids have the tendency of touching everything they come across and it is important to educate them before going back to school,” he said.
He urged parents who stay close to schools to assist with water bowsers.
“This can allow kids and some staff members continue with good sanitation and hygiene services during Covid-19 period. Without water schools cannot operate well. We are also worried about the transportation services for our kids hence it’s the duty of us parents to assist with disinfectants,” he said.
He said it is high time that schools introduce Covid-19 lessons in their curricular such that children are better equipped with more information about the disease.
The Director of Communication and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Taungana Ndoro, said schools’ preparations are still underway.
“Last week, teams from the Ministry’s head office including provincial and district offices embarked on monitoring visits to assess the state of preparedness of our schools with particular interest in boarding schools since Covid-19 cases were experienced there in the previous year. The state of preparedness in respect of social distancing and innovativeness of schools in utilising other spaces within their premises for boarding, dining and classroom purposes was quite commendable,” he said.
Schools in Zimbabwe closed in March and opened on September 28, 2020 after government relaxed the lockdown to allow only examination classes to return to school and finish their lessons.
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