A mini survey by this publication revealed that a number of
private schools had effectively ended the third term on Friday with some
reverting back to online lessons that were introduced during the prolonged
school break early this year due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
One of Bulawayo’s top schools said in a letter to parents
that it had decided to release learners on December 11 “because of the increase
in the number of teachers, who are self-isolating at home after experiencing
flu-like symptoms since 30 November”.
The school also said it was taking precautionary measures
“because of the rapid increase in Covid-19 positive cases nationwide, and in
particular the City of Bulawayo, especially after the reopening of our borders
with South Africa (a regional hotspot of the pandemic) and many other countries
in the region”.
There was also a drastic fall in the number of students
coming to school since December as parents opted to keep their children at home
as a risk mitigation measure, the school said.
Another private school in the city said although it would
shut its doors on Wednesday, reopening dates were not yet clear given the
resurgence of Covid-19 cases.
The government says schools will reopen on January 4
despite concerns that Zimbabwe might witness a spike in Covid-19 cases around
that time as there was likely to be increased travel during the festive season.
According to a United Nations Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) situation report dated December 4, Zimbabwe has
had Covid-19 outbreaks in nine high schools and universities contributing to
the increased number of cases in Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South,
Midlands, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland East.
Ocha said children of school-going age (five to 19 years)
accounted for 7,6% of all the confirmed cases.
It also warned that the cases would likely rise with the
coming of the festive season and the reopening of borders. As many as 400
students have tested positive for Covid-19 since schools reopened in October.
Among the affected schools are John Tallach High School in
Matabeleland North where over 150 students tested positive, Waddlilove and
Goromonzi high schools in Mashonaland East as well as Chinhoyi High School in
Mashonaland West.
According to official accounts, the outbreak at one of the
schools was blamed on pupils who had travelled to South Africa, the epicentre
of the pandemic in southern Africa, and teacher unions fear the worst when
schools reopen after Christmas.
“We need a holistic approach to this problem we face after
the festive season. People will be travelling, some going out of the country
and returning back untested through our porous borders increasing the
infection,” Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond
Majongwe said yesterday.
“The (Education) ministry must put in place mechanisms for the testing of all pupils when schools open in January otherwise we are in for a rude awakening.
“We are saying let us go back to the drawing board and see
what is best for our kids, education and the country as a whole because the
movement of people during this period will bring tragic consequences for many
lives.”
Taungana Ndoro, the director of communication in the
Primary and Secondary Education ministry, said the government would continue to
intensify its prevention and management of Covid-19 when schools reopen.
“These standard operating procedures have worked very
efficiently during a phased calendar in which many schools were able to detect
early any cases of Covid-19 and manage them accordingly,” Ndoro said.
“Therefore, the same modus operandi will be used when
schools reopen, and the plan is that the ministry intensifies the adherence to
these standard operating procedures.”
Obert Masaraure, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of
Zimbabwe president, said: “The government should invest in resources for mass
testing of all learners and teachers ahead of schools opening.
“Testing should not be once-off, but regular because these
people will be interacting with society.
“Government should also invest in enhancing social
distancing in our schools.”
Zimbabwe national Covid-19 chief coordinator Agnes Mahomva
said there was nothing much that could be done other than urging fellow
countrymen to be responsible by observing guidelines aimed at preventing
infection.
“Let’s do it ourselves and not look for others (government)
to do something for us. “It is really the prevention that is important more
than anything else,” Mahomva told The Standard.
“Firstly, we discourage people from travelling unless
necessary.
“We are also encouraging the public, teachers, learners and
parents to be responsible to protect themselves and others from infection. With
regard to schools reopening, we have guidelines in place.
“We will follow those guidelines. The only challenge we
have is when we don’t follow those guidelines.
“The guidelines are in place and have been strengthened
from lessons learnt after the outbreak at some schools.”
As of yesterday, the country had 11 219 confirmed
coronavirus cases and 307 deaths. Standard
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