Extension of reopening of schools welcome

Dear editor, GOVERNMENT through the Ministry of General Education last Tuesday announced the extension of reopening date of schools from January 4, 2021 to January 18, 2021. The extension was announced by the Ministry of General Education Permanent Secretary, Dr. Jobbicks Kalumba.

The decision of changing the reopening date of schools is a welcome move in that it will give parents time to raise money for school fees for their children. This year’s school calendar was affected by the outbreak of coronavirus which led to the premature closure of schools in March this year.

We are in the festive season where people will be celebrating Christmas and New Year. Some people tend to be too extravagant to spend money on luxury things during the festive season.

They forget that schools will be reopening after the festivities. When schools reopen, there is an issue of paying school fees for the children.

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on people’s financial status. The Covid-19 led to a slump in business activities as entrepreneurs could not make enough money. On the other hand, some people lost employment and others were sent on forced and unpaid leave as a dire consequence.

My humble appeal to pupils on holiday is that they should spend the holiday responsibly by desisting from vices such as alcohol abuse, drug abuse, illicit sex and crime, among others. These pupils should instead study during the holiday to catch up on some topics before the commencement of the first term.

However, the pupils writing examinations should exhibit exemplary behaviour by not resorting to any form of violence. Just recently Ryan Phiri, a Grade 12 pupil of Kabulonga Boys Secondary School was beaten to death by some pupils from Twin Palm Secondary School.

In conclusion, I would like to laud the Ministry of General Education for extending the reopening date of schools.

ELEMIYA PHIRI, Lusaka.