WATCH: Exam classes return to school

Bongani Ndlovu, Chronicle Reporter

PUBLIC examination classes have started returning to school with some starting lessons today after Government early this month said schools can only conduct holiday lessons for exam classes for a maximum of 10 days.

In Bulawayo, at the Large City Hall carpark yesterday, buses from Minda High School, St James High School and Thekwane High School ferried boarders back to school.

One parent, Ms Sibongile Sibanda who was bidding her St James High School Form Three daughter farewell said she was happy that she was going back to school.

“I think this is the right decision for them to go back to school and learn. When they are there, they are more serious with school work than at home where they are just on their phones. Considering that they had lost time due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Ms Sibanda.

She said she was worried because her daughter had two years disrupted by Covid-19 lockdowns.

“These past two years they only learnt two terms because of Covid-19 and only this year will they learn three. I look forward to her passing her O-level exams, but it won’t be easy, however, our teachers will help our children pass their exams,” said Ms Sibanda.

Another parent, Mrs Mayibongwe Moyo whose daughter is a Form Four pupil at Minda High School said she was not happy with her child’s second term school report and teachers must put in more effort.

“I believe at home she was learning because at school the teachers seem not serious. The way she and her peers got low marks; we are worried as parents. Maybe it was Covid-19 lockdowns that affected them. So her going back, we hope that the teachers will help them pass,” said Mrs Ncube.

Early this month Government said schools could only conduct holiday lessons after seeking permission from education 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.