Private schools have applauded the government for its recent directive for schools to reopen this month for examination classes.
Private schools directly employ over ten thousand teachers countrywide and they were greatly affected by the coronavirus lockdown as they solely depend on school fees for finances. James Manyoka, a private school headmaster said:
We were affected badly and some are out of work as we depend on school fees. There is hope now that schools are going to open.
An education entrepreneur Mavis Mavhunga told ZBC News that private schools need a financial bailout to remain afloat and also to be allowed to collect fees from non-examination classes. She said:
We applaud Government for allowing schools to reopen but for the private education sector which also contributes to education development in the country we need to be bailed out so that we remain afloat and also even be allowed to collect fees from non-examination classes since we do not rely on Government funds.
A school owner, Benjamin Ganyiwa said there are health checklists that they have been given to comply with but their capacity to do so may be impacted by limited funds since they will only collect money from exam classes only.
The government on Tuesday announced that Grade 7s, Form 4s and Form 6s will resume lessons on 28 September, with ZIMSEC examinations starting on 1 December.
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