Non-graduating students not resuming classes - Siame
ALL non-graduating students in universities and colleges will not resume classes following the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country, Ministry of Higher Education Permanent Secretary, Kayula Siame has said Ms Siame said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that the move was in line with cabinet decision that non graduating classes would remain closed. She has since directed the institutions of higher learning to continue with on-line lessons for the non-graduating classes to ensure that learning continues. “Non-graduating students will not resume classes due to the evolving of the Covid-19 pandemic which has gone upward with the new cases in the recent past,” Ms Siame said. “For students in graduating classes, all universities and colleges must intensify the implementation of the health and safety measures for both students and lecturers to reduce the risk of the spread of Covid-19 pandemic,” she said. Meanwhile, Ms Siame said the usual way of holding graduation ceremonies will not be possible this year on account of public gathering restrictions. “The guidance from the ministry, is therefore that all graduations ceremonies will have to be held virtually to ensure that adherence to the public health Covid-19 public gathering restrictions,” she said. On May 8, 2020, President Edgar Lungu directed the re-opening of schools for examination classes and asked the Ministry of Higher Education to engage other stakeholders to come with modalities on the reopening of non-examination classes for colleges and universities. – ZANIS.