Govt Prepares To Re-Open Schools

Government has announced it will evacuate all returnees quarantined in schools next week as it gets ready to reopen schools, New Ziana reports.

This was communicated by Infomation Minister Monica Mutsvangwa in a post-cabinet briefing. Mutsvangwa said:

In a bid to free schools as quarantine centres, alternative centres, mostly vocational training institutions with a capacity to accommodate 2 636 people, have been identified throughout the provinces

All schools currently being used as quarantine centres are expected to be vacated by 9 June, 2020. Hotels and lodges to accommodate returnees who can self-finance during the quarantine period have also been identified.

Mutsvangwa also said that only writing classes will go back to school for now:

However, following a marked increase in COVID-19 cases, Cabinet approved that only examination classes should initially open schools in order for schools to be able to put prevention measures in place

Students will be expected to return home immediately after examinations. Depending on the outcome of the first phase, a way forward can then be mapped for the other classes, and the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education will subsequently issue a date for the commencement of the other classes.

Meanwhile, ZIMSEC has released the June 2020 timetable and announced they will open more centres to ensure social distancing will be maintained even when students are writing exams.

More: New Ziana