Parents defy Govt holiday lessons ban

Sharon Chikowore

MANY parents are against the idea of a Government ban on holiday lessons, expressing fears that the move will affect their children’s education.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in March banned vacation lessons for examination and non-examination classes, saying the school term had no disturbances and that pupils needed to rest during the holiday.

Interviews conducted by Telegraph on the ban brought out that parents were not up for the idea. Parents believe that the Government’s move would disadvantage their children. Parents argued that they would not stop sending their children for holiday lessons.

Asiatu Chikwayi, who has primary school children said giving children holiday lessons was the new norm in education and that if one wanted their children to do well they should be free to do that and that was what she was doing.

“Almost everyone now is sending their kids to holiday lessons and it has become the new norm. The problem still comes back to you the parent if you are not careful because the moment you stop your child from attending holiday lessons it means she has derailed because these teachers continue with the syllabus during the holiday. So, even if it’s stopped it means some children will remain back while others are ahead,” explained Chikwayi.

Anna Chitiyo from Coldstream said the world was fighting drug and substance abuse that children are prone to because they will not be having anything to do. Sending children for lessons during school holidays would keep them busy.
“Sending children during holidays helps them stay busy as they concentrate on school work. Look now we are in the era where drug and substance abuse is rampant, kids are becoming drug addicts and mostly it is because they have nothing to do.

“As a parent, it is very crucial that these children attend holiday lessons because they are somehow protected while at school. I am also not saying that those at school do not engage in drugs, but if busy they will be protected from the outside world,” said Chitiyo.

Darlington Mandisekwa, said he realised that his child slow, and needed time to understand things, so he believes holiday lessons would useful that the Government should have considered children like his, who special attention.

“These holiday lessons help our children so much, for example, mine is a slow leaner and needs time to catch up. So when in class he is always behind. It is through these extra lessons that he is able to pull up.

“Government, of course, did ban holiday lessons but I am sure they did not take a lot into consideration. They just looked at one, where they implied that children need to rest.

“Of course, they need rest but they also have to do well in their school work. The ban is a total ‘no’ for me because I have seen the lessons doing wonders for my kid and will not stop giving him extra lessons,” said Mandisekwa.