Melinda Kusemachibi
After the announcement of school opening dates by Acting Minister of Health and Child Care, Professor Dr Aaron Murwira, school heads in and around Masvingo province have said they are ready for opening.
Ndarama High School Head Oddy Matongo said they are more than prepared to open schools.
“Students have been to school since January 2, 2022 up to date writing other part of examinations and we are only a week before the new term begins. So in terms of preparations we are and have prepared to open schools. It was only the date announcement that we were waiting for,”said Matongo.
He however said that the challenge currently obtaining at the school is a human resource one as most of their teachers are going to ZIMSEC for marking.
“However, now we have a challenge as most of the teachers who have been preparing to open schools are going for marking which runs up until February 26 for both Advanced and Ordinary level examinations. But on curbing Covid-19, we are prepared since we have sanitizers in place and are receiving more anytime soon. The school will also be fumigated,” said Matongo.
Copota School for the Blind Head Alfred Madamombe said that both teachers and students are ready for school opening.
“We are ready to open. We have received disinfectants, sanitizers, liquid soap and other materials for use by learners. What is left is the school to be opened,” said Madamombe.
Zimuto High School Head Harris Mashava said their school is prepared come opening day.
“We are looking forward for pupils to start coming on Sunday. We are yet to receive Protective Personal Equipment (PPEs) such as sanitizers from the Ministry but we already bought our own sanitizers,” said Mashava.
Pamushana High School Head Agrippa Moyo concurred with Mashava on their preparedness for schools opening.
“Having been given ample time to prepare for the opening of schools since January 10 which was the first date, we can safely say that we have everything in order and we will open our doors for pupils this coming Sunday since it is a boarding school,” said Moyo.
Gutu High School Head Mirirai Mutanda said they invited the District Schools Inspector (DSI) and confirmed that everything is set.
“Our DSI and his team inspected the school on January 31, 2022. As a school we are ready for schools opening,” said Mutanda.
Chikuku School Head Reuben Rukuni, however said they are not yet prepared since they do not have enough money to adequately prepare for opening.
“We are going to conduct a meeting since the school has got no money, and after that we will have a way forward,” said Rukuni.
Masvingo District Schools Inspector Ishmael Chigaba said schools are more than ready to be opened as children had spent more time at home.
“We are ready for school opening. We had received enough sanitizers and schools will be fumigated,’ said Chigaba.
Meanwhile in Zvishavane, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) has started issuing out various materials meant to curb the spread of Covid-19 in preparation for the opening of schools set for February 7.
In an interview with TellZim news, Zvishavane District Schools Inspector (DSI) Eusebia Zvinowanda said the ministry was issuing out disinfectants and hand washing liquid to all the schools in the district.
“We are trying to ensure that we reduce the number of Covid-19 cases in schools,” Zvinowanda said.
She also said that school teachers are advised to sanitize and disinfect their classrooms and toilets regularly.
She also highlighted that they are distributing these items basing the number of staff and students at school.
Acting Minister of Health and Child Care, Professor Dr Aaron Murwira said schools can open after one week of finalizing all preparations by both school administrators and parents.
“The general school calendar starts on February 07, 2022 following one week of finalizing all reopening preparations by both schools’ administrators and parents,” he said in a press statement.
Schools had been closed since December 17 2021 and were supposed to open on January 10 this year for the first term of 2022.
