The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education says it is satisfied with progress towards meeting World Health Organization (WHO) protocols by schools ahead of the anticipated reopening which is expected anytime soon.
The Ministry officials are currently on the ground across the country, monitoring schools’ levels of preparedness in line with stipulated health guidelines meant to ensure pupils’ safety from the global COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview with 263Chat, Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson, Taungana Ndoro said the preparations were satisfactory.
“It is very encouraging what the schools have done particularly the boarding schools. It’s very encouraging that they have done the best that they can under the circumstances and with the resources that they have to ensure that they align themselves to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Child Care as well as the WHO protocols,” said Taungana.
Last year, the government briefly opened schools for examination classes to sit for examinations and the decision backfired when some schools eventually became hotspots for the spread of the virus prompting authorities to ensure the schools environments are better safeguarded this time around.
Much emphasis is being given to boarding schools adherence to health protocols as they were the major super spreaders of the virus last year.
“At the moment I think we have been out in the field including all teams from the head office including the Minister, the deputy minister, the permanent secretary, chief directors, directors and deputy directors,”
“They were throughout the whole country, monitoring mainly the boarding schools to find out their adherence to the World Health Organization protocols as well as the guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Childcare,”
“If you notice as of last year, cases of COVID-19 were mainly within boarding schools, so as a ministry we are checking adherence to find out whether we are following those guidelines in our boarding schools to prevent the spreading,” he said.
Dates for the opening of schools is yet to be advised.
He however said not all schools were at a satisfactory stage of preparation citing scarce resources but stressed that the Ministry will ensure that all schools will be prepared by the time of reopening.
Last year, Government availed $600 million for disbursement to needy schools to improve sanitation and enable them to reopen safely without risking a spike in Covid-19 infections.
Addressing the nation at the end of the 14 day extension of the lockdown, President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged schools to prepare to re-open though he did announce dates.
