Harare (New Ziana)-Preparation for the opening of schools for the second term are progressing well with most schools now finishing construction of more facilities to decongest classrooms, an official has said.

Director of Communications and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Taungana Ndoro, said preparations for the second term were underway.

“We have quite a number of schools that are already constructing new structures to ensure that they decongest their classrooms or halls or common rooms to ensure that there is adequate social distancing so that there will be strict adherence to our standard operating procedures.

“We are encouraging all other schools that have not started to do so to ensure that they look forward to strictly adhering to the standard operating procedures for the management and prevention of COVID-19,”he said.

Some schools are however already demanding payment of fees for the second term.

But Ndoro said: “As for some schools that are demanding payment of fees for the second term; well the calendar has been deferred as the government monitors the situation.

“So only until there is a set date for the opening of second term can fees be paid.”

In Tuesday’s post Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said in preparation for the opening of schools, inspection visits were being carried out to assess the state of preparedness at all boarding schools, high enrolment day schools and schools with very limited infrastructure.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is working on modalities to enable a blend of face-to-face classroom learning, remote learning at home and in communities, as well as alternative learning platforms, such as e-learning, radio and television,” she said.

New Ziana