THE Government is finalising modalities that will see
primary and secondary school learners receiving lessons through radio in the
wake of the Covid-19 pandemic that has disrupted the school calendar leading to
cancellation of Cambridge international examinations for May and June.
Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo
told Sunday News in an interview yesterday that they have since reached an
agreement with the national broadcaster – ZBC on having school lessons
broadcast on its radio stations.
He however, could not reveal when the programme will start.
“We are not yet sure as of when the schools are going to
open. That will be said by the President after consultations with the relevant
stakeholders and in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.
“We, however, admit that a lot has been disturbed in our
learning. As you are aware, we closed schools early and we are not yet sure of
the dates of opening. We are still under lockdown. We have examination classes
and we are just preparing ourselves for the realities that we are going to open
schools one day. So, in that regard we have engaged ZBC and agreed to have
lessons on radio for both primary and secondary classes,” he said.
Asked what would happen to those that have no access to
radios because of poor radio signal reception and other social factors, Deputy
Minister Moyo said material would be printed and distributed to rural
communities that have no access to radio.
“We are developing printed material for those that will not
be able to access radio lessons. We are mindful of the rural communities who
have no access so a plan is in place for them. We know that some school work
has been going on, on various social media platforms accessible to learners
where teachers are sending their classes work to do but that is not formal, but
it is not bad. It, however, only disadvantages those learners from poor
backgrounds who have no access to gadgets and we hope the teachers will take
that into consideration when schools open,” said Deputy Minister Moyo.
He added that the ministry was also preparing online
lessons and material development through Ruzivo pushed by High Life Foundation
which was a Government partner under Curriculum Development and Technical
Services (CDTS).
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, he said,
was working with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to ensure there would be
adherence to guidelines such as social distancing, wearing of masks and use of
sanitisers when schools open.
“Teachers will have to undergo sensitisation workshops, so
it’s a whole lot of work that we are doing as we want to ensure a safe learning
environment in our schools,” he said.
Deputy Minister Moyo encouraged innovation at school level
saying items such as masks could be made at schools by those doing Design and
Technology.
“There is a school in Karoi called Chikangwe High that is
into manufacturing masks and that is the type of innovation that we want in
schools,” he said.
In a statement released by Cambridge Regional Director in
Sub-Saharan Africa Mr Juan Visser, the international examination board said it
had cancelled the May/June 2020 examinations in all countries.
“Our decision not to hold our international examinations in
the May/June 2020 series in any country was taken after much consideration; not
least because many schools are closed and countries are under lockdown. This
cancellation is not unique to Cambridge, most awarding bodies and ministries of
education have taken similar decisions,” reads part of the statement.
Meanwhile, universities and colleges have also adopted
online learning due to restrictions on travelling and social distancing.
Most of the country’s universities have, however, turned
themselves into innovation centres where they have been capacitated to
manufacture sanitisers. The Covid-19 pandemic has so far killed more than 198
000 people with more than 2.83 million confirmed cases worldwide. Zimbabwe, by
Friday had 28 confirmed cases and four deaths. Sunday News
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