All teachers should report for duty on July 28, the date
set for the return of examination classes in the phased reopening of schools,
and should make arrangements to be at their stations to either teach the
examination classes or be able to give alternative learning to the rest of the
schoolchildren
In an interview, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary
Education director of communications and advocacy, Mr Taungana Ndoro, said all
teachers were needed back at work as schools opened, even though only
examination classes would physically return to school.
Teachers are expected to attend physical classes at
schools, and offer alternative learning to those pupils who will not be
physically present by virtue of being non-examination forms.
“Learners who are not physically at school are expected to
receive tuition through alternative learning programmes, and so we need all
teachers to be engaged in creating learning packages for all their pupils,”
said Mr Ndoro.
Only Form Six, Form Four and Grade Seven classes will
resume classes on July 28, while Lower Six, Form Three and Grade 6 pupils come
in three weeks later.
Other pupils will move back into their classrooms in three
more phases.
To allow for a smooth and safe resumption of classes for
examination form pupils, the Government has already moved returnees out of
school premises being used as quarantine centres to allow full disinfection,
and has barred churches from renting school halls and classrooms for services.
Schools are ensuring that they have masks and other
necessary protection equipment and can space out desks and have adequate
teacher to pupil ratios.
With a phased re-opening, early classes can be split if
necessary. Mr Ndoro said the ministry was ensuring that risks of
infection were kept very low.
The Government recruited 2 300 teachers last month and is
in the process of recruiting 3 000 more.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care, in light of
guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO), has set requirements for
schools to reopen.
“Some of our schools have taken the initiative to prepare
face masks and hand sanitisers on their own,” said Mr Ndoro.
“We are also grateful that the Government has availed funds
to the ministry so that schools can acquire, and in some cases produce their
own personal protective equipment.”
Dismissing sentiments that rural schools were ill-equipped
regarding protection, Mr Ndoro said some of those producing their own
protective materials were the rural schools.
“Therefore, come July 28, all schools should be ready to
open their doors to their phase one learners,” said Mr Ndoro.
On school fees, and the school calendar, since the
traditional second term is already in its twilight, Mr Ndoro clarified that
“school fees payments are going to be paid on pro rata (in proportion to the
whole) basis, and we expect learners to start paying their fees and levies as
soon as learning resumes”.
“We are working on a school calendar which we will share
with all our stakeholders in the near future.” Herald
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