Late surge for schools opening

THERE was a last-minute shopping rush for school uniforms and stationery in Harare yesterday as parents and guardians prepared for the delayed start of the first term tomorrow.

Most retailers in the capital had long queues and congested aisles.

Parents who spoke to The Sunday Mail were looking forward to the resumption of face-to-face lessons for learners.

The Government has already put in place standard operating procedures to prevent Covid-19 outbreaks in schools.

Zimbabwe Schools Development Committees/Associations (ZSDC/ As) secretary-general Mr Everisto Jongwe said they welcomed the reopening of schools.

“As parents, we have been waiting for this day when our kids go back to school, but there are challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

Mrs Shupikai Masawi of Kambuzuma, Harare, said the long break was beginning to negatively impact on learners.

“We thank the Government for this decision to open schools because our children were now losing focus,” she said.

“The pressure is now on us to pay school fees and buy the required supplies.

“Of course, there was a lot of time to prepare, but most parents will agree that it’s difficult to plan due to rising prices,” said Mrs Masawi.

“Today (yesterday) I am buying some food items for my Form Three daughter but as soon as she leaves, I will have to start preparing for my son who is going for Form One.

“We have not even secured a place for him and we are just hoping that everything will be smooth.”

A snap survey conducted last week showed that most schools, especially boarding schools, have hiked their fees.

A place at a modest boarding school now costs between $60 000 and $100 000, up from around $30 000 last term. Most public day schools have also marginally raised their fees.

The law requires schools that intend to adjust their fees and school development levies to apply for approval from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

In terms of the Education Act, any adjustment must be approved by a meeting of the School Parents Assembly attended by not less than 20 percent of the parents.

On Friday, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Evelyn Ndlovu said sufficient preparations had been made for classes to resume.

She, however, cautioned schools against unilaterally and unreasonably

hiking fees.

“The ministry advises that the wearing of face masks and washing of hands as well as physical distancing are a must in the fight against Covid-19 at all our schools and learning centres to ensure a safe learning environment for our learners, as well as to assure us of uninterrupted and accelerated implementation of teaching and learning activities,” she said.

Meanwhile, Government has directed all teachers to report for duty tomorrow while authorities finalise an improved salary package for civil servants.

Some teacher unions have been trying to push teachers to abscond. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima said Government had shown commitment to improving working conditions for its employees.

“Our worry is that this is becoming a regular thing that whenever schools are about to open teachers declare incapacitation,” he said.

“We have a negotiation process that is already underway, so there is no need for them to take such a position, it feels they are holding us to ransom.”

Outside the monthly salary, Professor Mavima added, Government had introduced a number of allowances and incentives to cushion civil servants against the tough economic conditions.

“We have already made a lot of interventions, including the US$75 hard currency allowance and that should at least assure them that we are committed to improving their situation,” he said.

“But I must say that we have consultations going on in Government and we are close to a solution. We will be announcing our offer soon.

“We had our last meeting with the civil servants in January but there was no agreement, so those Government consultations are meant to address that.”

Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions secretary-general Mr David Dzatsunga said civil servants are still committed to negotiations.

“The meeting which happened against the backdrop of Government having pledged to pay the US$75 Covid-19 allowance in hard currency saw the workers request that Government concede to their long-standing demand to pay their salaries in USD,” he said.

“In light of the above, the Government team appreciated the workers’ reasons for sticking to their position of a non-inflationary and sustainable solution to the salary, upon which they asked for time out to consult with their principals.”