Opening of schools rescheduled to Feb 1

Opening of schools rescheduled to Feb 1

THE reopening of schools, which was slated for next Monday, has been rescheduled to February 1, to allow all education institutions to put in place Covid-19 health guidelines.

President Edgar Lungu has since directed the Minister of General Education and the Minister of Higher Education to ensure all institutions were ready.

He said the two ministries should work with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Local Government and other sector players.

This is contained in a statement issued by President Lungu’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, Isaac Chipampe.

The President said he was also aware of the financial challenges parents go through after the festive season and hoped that they would use the two weeks to adequately prepare for the reopening of schools next month.

He said he was concerned that there was a surge in Covid-19 cases at the time the schools were to reopen.

"1 have heard the concerns of parents, guardians and other stakeholders, therefore, this decision is aimed at ensuring institutions of learning prepare adequately, and strictly adhere to public health regulations and adequate preparedness by all relevant authorities, including parents and guardians," President Lungu said.

He said he would allow the reopening of schools in the context of living with the covid-19 pandemic under the

New Normal.

President Lungu stressed that protection of learners should not only be left to school authorities but that parents have a key role to play.

“Closing schools indefinitely because of Covid-19, is not the answer because we do not know when this disease will go away or whether it will go at all as espoused by the World Health Organisation,” he said.

He noted that the experience of last year when learners lost about seven months of learning taught the nation that compliance to health guidelines was the key to protecting learners as well as ensuring their career paths were not ruined.

"Last year we heard of sad stories arising from the closure of schools due to Covid-19. There were various juvenile delinquencies that destroyed the lives of some of the learners due to long stay at home.

“Digital platforms, as well, only helped children from well to do families. Even then there was no teacher-pupil contact and supervising children to be on computers was not the easiest task for parents,” he said.

The President emphasised that the decision taken on reopening of schools could be varied depending on how Covid-19 evolves.

Mr Lungu urged people not to politicise the fight against Covid-19 because the disease has no political boundaries.