Following a strict policy change that put a halt to the popular practice of extra lessons, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) has issued a stern warning to school authorities who are permitting the banned activity on school premises.
The directive banning vacation school classes was issued ahead of close of the 2024 first term session.
Learners are currently resting during the April holiday.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) has made it clear that they will not tolerate any disobedience or flouting of their rules regarding vacation schools.
In a succinctly worded communiqué released on Friday, the ministry’s communications and advocacy director, Taungana Ndoro, emphasized that their earlier decree, which prohibited the running of vacation schools, remains in full effect and should be adhered to by all school authorities.
“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education emphasises the importance of compliance with the directive regarding the vacation school during the April holiday.
Schools that v!0late this directive may face appropriate disciplinary measures. It is crucial to prioritise the well-being and independent learning of pupils during this break,” said Ndoro.
Probed further by source, Ndoro said, “I issued the quote to emphasise the importance of compliance. About 0.001% v!olations were noticed here and there.”
Extra lessons have lately become popular among learners who want to compensate for lost time after realising demoralised teachers deliberately absent themselves, in protest, for scheduled or timetabled classes.
The practice has given rise to a private social contract between learner-and-teacher whereby the former pays the latter an average of US$10 per lessons per month.
Despite Taungana Ndoro’s firm warning against running vacation schools, there appeared to be some defiance on the ground, as reported by our correspondents in Harare and Chinhoyi.
While Ndoro’s notice did not explicitly name any schools that were breaching the directive, a quick survey by our reporters in the mentioned locations found that some tutors were still offering private tutorials, demonstrating their refusal to adhere to the MoPSE’s guidelines.
SOURCE : NEW ZIMBABWE
