The Government is considering reopening schools following a fall in the number of new coronavirus cases and deaths in recent weeks.
Schools closed on June 4 and were set to open for the second term on June 28. However, the reopening was postponed because new COVID-19 deaths and infections were on the rise.
The Government is still to announce when schools will open but the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has been preparing for reopening.
Community Working Group on Health director Mr Itai Rusike said in preparation for the reopening of schools, communities should follow guidelines and protocols on Covid-19 to lessen transmission. He said:
The situation in the schools should be certified safe by the Government with all the schools having met the required standards necessary to be deemed safe to reopen. Communities should continue to be encouraged to be vaccinated in order for us to achieve herd immunity in the shortest possible time.
Last week, some school heads said they were ready for the reopening of schools as they will just need a week or two to finalise preparations before learners come.
The government was recently reported as considering scrapping the second term and planning that when schools open, primary and secondary school pupils will learn continuously until they close in December.
The ministry is said to have already agreed that it was impossible to run two more terms this year.
Teachers’ unions have been against reopening schools prematurely saying that would endanger the lives of both learners and teachers. They also wanted the government to address their salary grievance before reopening.
More: The Herald