Harare, (New Ziana) – The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has issued official guidelines for the upcoming vacation school programme, scheduled to run from 8 to 21 August 2025, as part of efforts to enhance exam preparedness among learners in final year classes.
In a circular sent out to all provincial and district education offices, the Ministry’s permanent secretary, Moses Mike said the vacation school initiative is specifically targeted at Grade 7, Form 4, and Upper Sixth students preparing for national examinations later this year.
“The holiday lessons will take place between 8 August and 21 August 2025. All schools must be cognisant of the Heroes and Defence Forces Day and not conduct lessons during the two national days. Schools can opt to utilise a Saturday, Sunday, or both to get their ten-day stretch within the authorised timeframe. No vacation school will be authorised beyond the 21st of August 2025,” said Mhike.
He said schools have been given the green light to operate within the two-week window, provided they adhere strictly to the stipulated fee structure. Mhike said primary schools are permitted to charge up to US$ 2, secondary schools between US$ 3 and US$5, while boarding schools may add an extra USD 5 to cover residential costs with all students attending vacation school required to wear their full school uniforms, while teachers are expected to dress in professional work attire to maintain a formal and focused learning environment.
To ensure quality and consistency, Mhike said the Ministry has tasked school inspectors and district literacy coordinators to monitor the programme across the country. Their role will be to ensure schools comply with the set standards and that learning remains focused on exam readiness.
“The objective is to assist candidates in mastering key syllabus concepts and to offer targeted learner support ahead of the upcoming exams. Schools must run vacation school with a clear emphasis on academic improvement and structured revision,” he said.
He implored school heads to ensure all arrangements — from timetables to teacher deployment — are aligned with the programme’s core aim: to improve national examination outcomes through additional academic support during the break.
Parents and guardians have also been encouraged to support the initiative by ensuring that learners attend the sessions and come prepared to fully benefit from the intensified learning period.
New Ziana
