Treasury recently allocated $350 million to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for the acquisition of more than four million face masks among other materials needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when schools open on 28 July.
Speaking to Sunday News, Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo said schools will not buy the face masks but they will be provided by the Government. Moyo said:
Some circles have claimed that we are imploring schools to produce their own face masks which is far from the truth.
All we are saying is that these schools produce the face masks then we purchase from them, so the schools can get money to fund their individual projects.
As you might know, the ministry got $350 million from Treasury a couple of weeks ago, which is the money that is being used to make all these procurements ahead of this phased reopening of schools.
Yes, we are not as 100 per cent ready as we would want but it’s an ongoing process.
Zimbabwe will reopen schools at the end of this month, with examination classes – Grade Seven, Form Four and Form Six – returning first.
This is part of a phased approach towards the opening of schools that will see other classes opening in phases.