Learners registered for the Zimsec June ordinary and
advanced level examinations will write as scheduled, a schools reopening
roadmap tabled by Government in Parliament has shown.
The examinations will run from 29 June to 22 July this
year.
Addressing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary
and Secondary Education yesterday, Primary and Secondary Education Permanent
Secretary Mrs Tumisang Thabela said the June examination would not be
forfeited.
“We can only advise on the schools opening dates after the
Minister has presented our suggested rollout plan to Cabinet and is approved.
As for the June exams, we are starting on the 29th of June up to the 22nd of
July,” Mrs Thabela said.
Parliament heard that postponing the June examination to a
further date, presented a logistical nightmare.
“The June examination is still a priority to us as a
ministry. This June examination is the last examination using the old
curriculum.
“If we do not give these children who want to sit for the
examination a chance to sit, it means we are disabling them in terms of a
future because they will have to write a new curriculum or syllabus,” Mrs
Thabela said.
The registered group for the June examinations is
reportedly the largest in history. Government has drawn up an opening plan, which will see
schools reopen in phases.
Examination classes will be the first group to resume
classes. “Phase one, we are looking at examination classes — these are O-level,
A- level and and Grade Seven classes. We need a minimum of four weeks to train
teachers, to train the whole system, to procure protective clothing and all
other things we may need,” said Mrs Thabela.
The gradual rollout will see an eased increase in school
numbers. “Phase two, which will follow after three weeks will be for classes
writing next year. All classes will be split into two to allow social
distancing, so we do not know how many teachers we will have left. This is why
we will need another three weeks before getting to the next level,” said Mrs
Thabela.
She added: “Phase three is when the rest of high school
learners will go to school and in primary, Grades Three, Four and Five will
return to schools. We are hoping our winter would have shown us clearly how the
school is reacting to the cold weather.”
Lower primary school classes are expected to return towards
the end of winter, which health scientists say has an increased infection
potential.
“As we get to phase four, classrooms will be used up due to
social distancing. In this phase, Grade One and Two learners will return to
class. We will now be using tents and mobile classrooms to accommodate
learners, this takes a lot of logistics. This is why their return will have to
be two weeks after phase three,” Mrs Thabela said.
Last to return will be tots in early childhood development
class. “By this point we are hoping winter will be over and our ECD classes can
return to school,” said Mrs Thabela. Herald
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