Fredrick Moyo
Masvingo – National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH) has said the decision by government to allow the resumption of sporting activities in schools following a long lay-off due to Covid-19 restrictions comes at the appropriate time when talented school pupils .
Speaking to TellZim News NASH provincial chairperson Dr Edson Muresherwa said the missing link in the learning curve has been the absence of sport as some pupils are talented in that domain and need to show case their talents.
“We are excited with the resumption of sporting activities in schools and that was the only area that was still under lockdown, yet sporting activities are part of the curriculum. Back then it was extra-curriculum and now it is co-curriculum which means it is part of the curriculum so we are excited that pupils with different talents can now showcase their talents.
“The locking down of sporting disciplines was a disadvantage to pupils who many not be necessarily talented in academics but are talented in sport. Although we have some who are talented in both, I think this is the right decision and that is what NASH has been longing for,” said Dr Muresherwa.
Efforts to get a comment from Masvingo Provincial Medical Director (PMD) Amadeus Shamhu were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered while Masvingo Provincial Education Director (PED) Shylet Mhike refused to comment about the situation in schools and whether they are prepared to meet the set requirements to resume sporting activities.
In the post-Cabinet briefing held on May 17 2022, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa confirmed the resumption of the activities and tasked Provincial Medical Directors (PMD) and Provincial Education Directors (PED) to submit a list of schools that would have reached the target.
“All primary schools can resume sporting activities. Secondary schools that have reached 70 percent Covid-19 vaccination can resume non-contact sporting activities. In embracing the new normal, Cabinet has approved the following measures: that Provincial Medical Directors in collaboration with Provincial Education Directors submit on a weekly basis a list of schools in their provinces that meet the 70 percent second dose Covid-19.
“Provincial Medical Directors in collaboration with Provincial Education Directors submit, on a weekly basis, a list of schools in their provinces that meet the 70 percent second dose Covid-19 coverage,” said Mutsvangwa.
She also added that all provinces should now ramp up vaccination under the Phase 2 vaccination blitz campaign programme by working closely with community leaders.
“All teams should continue working closely with community leaders to ramp up vaccination campaign activities and encourage the most vulnerable groups especially the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions to get vaccinated,” added Mutsvangwa.
Government suspended all sporting activities in schools in a bid to prevent the spread of the deadly corona virus and as part of preventive measures to contain the rising number of Covid-19 cases.
