The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has said there was a high teacher and learner turnout when schools reopened Monday for examination classes.
This was of course in comparison to last year’s turnout when the majority of teachers did not show up when schools resumed demanding a review of salaries.
Primary and Secondary Education Ministry communication and advocacy manager Mr Taungana Ndoro said most schools opened without incident yesterday. Mr Ndoro said:
I’m still to get a comprehensive report on schools reopening across the country. But what I observed is that learners turned up and the teachers turned up as we are dealing with examination classes at the moment.
We also had some pupils turned away because of non-payment of fees. But in comparison with last year, there is a huge difference as teachers and pupils came to school yesterday,” said Mr Ndoro. He said he believes that most pupils and teachers were back at school as they are confident that the Covid-19 prevention measures being implemented in schools were effective.
Last year both teachers and learners were afraid of the pandemic. The standard operating procedures which include that pupils should wear face masks, sanitise hands and the implementation of World Health Organisation Covid-19 protocol have seen our learners and teachers adjusting to new normal even in the education sector.
Meanwhile, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) yesterday claimed there was low teacher and learner turnout as schools reopened attributing the alleged low attendance to incapacitation.
ARTUZ gave the government an ultimatum and said if there are no salary reviews by next when the rest of the students are supposed to go back to school, they will embark on a street protest.
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