Gvt bans holiday lessons

Date:

MARTIN MAWAYA

HARARE-Government has turned down vacation school for grade 7, ‘O and A level candidates and other non-examination classes.

In a circular released today and distributed to Provincial Education Directors, school authorities and teachers organizations, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Secondary and Primary Education, Moses Mhike  said learners should rest as teaching and learning was not disrupted  during the first term of the year.

“The Ministry notes with appreciation the request that have been received from some of its sectors to allow for the uptake of the vacation school for examination classes of Grade 7, Ordinary and Advanced level during this April holiday,” said Mhike.

“Having consulted widely on the matter and taking cognisant of the fact that the school term had no disturbances at all to the teaching and learning programme, therefore, authority is not granted that schools facilitate a vacation school holidays for Grade 7, Ordinary and Advanced level candidates as well as non-examination classes,” added Mhike.

He said learners should take a break or engage in independent learning, including utilisation of the Zimbabwe learning passport among other alternative strategies.

In the circular, the Ministry also hailed teachers for their resilient and commitment in executing their duties.

President of the militant Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Dr Takavafira Zhou said there should be a balance between need and greedy in allowing holiday lessons and each case must be taken on its own merits.

“The need for holiday lessons cannot be determined by the Ministry per ser, there should be a case by case analysis and the need for holiday lessons should come from the school, at local level as they know their weaknesses and strength.

“Holiday lessons should be on merit and not on the basis of wanting to make money from the parents, hence each case must be taken differently to avoid corruption,” said the respected educationist.  

In the past two decades, extra lessons have been a cash cow for teachers especially in the urban areas and the ban is likely not go down well with most of them as they had budgeted for the windfall that comes with holiday lessons.

“I applaud the Government for coming up with that decision as teachers were fleecing us in the name of extra or holiday lessons as they had neglected their duties under normal circumstances in anticipation of holiday lessons where they get extra bucks.

“Learning should be programmed in such a way that allows our children to rest as the famous saying goes; study hard and play hard,” said Nicholas Chirimuuta from NHB in Sakubva, Mutare.

One rural teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity said; “the ban puts us at par with everyone as we were disadvantaged because urban teachers used to benefit more from the rich pickings of extra lessons,”

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