Ministry offers free holiday lessons for flood-hit pupils

SCHOOL children affected by floods in Tsholotsho District will have a chance to catch up on their studies as the provincial education department is organising free holiday lessons for them.

The Government has also said other affected schools in the country can apply to conduct the vacation lessons.

Tsholotsho District was severely affected by floods that displaced more than 1 000 people.

Most of the people were moved to a temporary camp at Sipepa Hospital while others remained at their homesteads with no access to basic services.

Matabeleland North provincial education director Mrs Boithatelo Mnguni said the province was organising free holiday lessons for the affected children.

“The situation has left us with no option but to come up with an arrangement that will see children affected by floods attending school during the school holidays. This will cover up for time lost as they were being settled into the camp and other local schools. Most of them missed a lot during the time they were being moved to the camp.

She said those who are not at the camp and remained with their parents at home were cut off from school.

She said she had communicated with the school heads to accept children from other schools so that they are not left behind.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora said schools affected by floods countrywide could apply for vacation school to compensate for time lost due to floods during the term.