31 December 2021
Vimbayi Mahachi
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has announced a normal school calender for next year after the Covid-19 pandemic with its induced lockdowns were affecting the 2019/20 school calendars.
This affected the normal known three term calender to two as the infections tolled in some months were children were supposed to be at school.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MOPSE) has released the 2022 calendar which resembles the normal school calendar which the country has known.
Permanent Secretary in the office of the Education Ministry Tumisang Thabela released a statement spelling out the opening and closing dates for next year.
The first term will begin on Monday the 10th of January 2022 ending on the 7th of April 2022. Second term will begin on the 9th of May 2022 ending on Thursday 4 August 2022. Term three will commence on the 5th of September 2022 ending on the 1st ofu December 2022.
Form 2,3,4 and upper six students as well as Early Childhood Development (ECD) to grade 7 will open on the 10th of January 2022.
“O” and “A” Level students will however have an early start as they will open on Monday 3 January 2022 to resume writing Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC).
Current Grade seven students will have to wait a bit longer before going to form one as results are not yet out. Parents who want to have their children at boarding schools are advised to apply on the Ministry’s electronic platform (www.emap.co.zw).
In line with the Covid-19 pandemic currently being driven by the Omicron Variant, Thabela stated that her Ministry advises adherence of the Covid-19 protocols.
“The Ministry advises its clients and stakeholders that the wearing of masks, handwashing as well as social distancing are a must in the fight against Covid-19 at all schools and other learning institutions as we prepare for safe opening of schools,” she said.
There is concern on the opening of examinations writing classes who are supposed to be finishing off their exams from the 3rd of January 2022, four days from today.
Will the students and teachers alike be ready after the holidays fatigue?
It will be two days after New year’s day, some teachers and even learners will still be fatigued from the festive holidays, this may affected the students performance in their final exams.
The Ministry should have heeded Teacher’s Unions who recommended a postponement of these examinations.