Harare, (New Ziana) – The government said on Saturday the school calendar for the final term of the year remains unchanged, with schooling expected to resume this Tuesday.
The clarification followed social media claims that government had declared seven days of mourning for the late former President Robert Mugabe who died on Friday at the age of 95 in Singapore where he was getting treatment.
While government has declared that the country will be in mourning until the country’s founding father is laid to rest, Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Professor Paul Mavima said schools, which had been on a break since last month, resume their calendar next week.
“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to inform parents, guardians and all stakeholders that the official date for opening of schools for the third term has not changed,” he said.
“Schools will open on Tuesday 10 September, 2019 as initially planned. This is contrary to social media hoax that is circulating that there is school calendar deviation to 16 September, 2019.”
The messages were already causing confusion among stakeholders, officials said.
Students who at are boarding are expected to report for school on Monday, 9 September, Mavima said.
He said it was imperative that time is used prudently during the term when grade seven, Ordinary and Advanced level students write critical examinations.
Opening of the third term is however without its challenges, as some teacher representatives organisations are threatening to down tools over remuneration issues.
Government this month increased salaries for civil servants by 76 percent taking the lowest paid to ZWL$1 023.
The third term runs until December 5.
New Ziana
