The government has not yet set the dates for the reopening of schools, contrary to social media reports claiming that schools will reopen for exam classes in three weeks.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will make an announcement in due course and the reopening dates will be determined by the progress that will have been made in fighting coronavirus.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Tumisang Thabela, on Wednesday dismissed a schedule falsely stating schools will reopen next month. She said:
Only the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education and the Permanent Secretary can make an announcement on the dates for the reopening of schools.
We have realised that a message is circulating on various platforms with supposed dates for reopening of schools, but let us stand guided as a sector that we have spokespersons for the ministry. Anything else should be ignored.
There has been some understandable anxiety on the part of parents and children when schools will open again.
The opening date will be determined by the progress that we make as a nation in fighting the coronavirus.
Thabela was speaking at the launch of the Manicaland Chapter of the COVID-19 Schools Response Plan at Old Mutare Mission.
Her remarks come after a schedule purportedly from the Ministry has circulated widely on WhatsApp.
The schedule falsely states that examination classes will go back to school on June 23, while Grade Six, Form Three and Form Five classes would go back on July 14 with the rest of the classes going back on July 28.