Parents of examination candidates are facing additional school costs this August after the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education authorised vacation lessons for Grade Seven, Form Four and Upper Six pupils, with the Government saying the programme is meant to help learners prepare for examinations and cover outstanding syllabus content.

The lessons will run from August 7 to 20, covering 10 working days, with schools allowed to use a Saturday, Sunday or both, depending on their timetables. No vacation school will be permitted beyond August 20.

Permanent Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education Moses Mhike said the decision was made after recognising that some schools faced challenges that may have affected syllabus coverage for examination classes.

He said the programme was intended to support pupils’ success and reassure stakeholders of the Ministry’s commitment to quality education.

Mhike said the Ministry was also mindful of the financial pressure that additional teaching could place on parents, particularly those with disadvantaged pupils who might not receive extra support.

Under the approved fees, primary schools can charge US$2 per Learning Area for each Grade Seven pupil, while secondary schools can charge US$3 per Learning Area for Form Four and US$5 per Learning Area for Upper Six, or the equivalent at the prevailing bank rate in Zimbabwe Gold.

Boarding schools can charge an additional US$5 per day for upkeep during the vacation period, while schools have been directed not to charge amounts above those stipulated by the Ministry.

The decision has nevertheless raised questions over whether pupils should require additional teaching during holidays if the normal school term is sufficient to complete the curriculum.

Lean Magwaro said some of the pressure could be addressed by reviewing the curriculum.

“The curriculum has things that are not relevant. If trimmed, the writing classes will not need holiday lessons,” Magwaro said.

Philip Hukimwe questioned the approval of vacation lessons, arguing that teaching should be completed during the scheduled school term.

“My issue is why would the Ministry approve vacation classes? The term should be enough for a learner. You are, in a way, facilitating the illegal vacation classes. Teachers must complete teaching within the designated term period,” he said.

Brenda Nyarugwe, however, said teachers have responsibilities beyond classroom teaching and that learners have different levels of understanding.

“Teachers are not there to get into class, teach and mark books. There are a lot of other duties that can be assigned to them, and those duties end up taking some of the learners’ time. They also have to work under a timetable, and these students have different understanding issues. A lesson is usually at least 30 minutes,” she said.

Mhike said the Ministry’s broader strategy was to improve foundational learning, digitise teaching and learning, improve the safety of pupils and staff, and strengthen parents’ involvement in their children’s education.

The Ministry also ordered schools to issue receipts to parents and guardians at the point of payment and maintain proper books of accounts for an audit trail.

Mhike said the vacation schools would be supervised and monitored by inspectors, District Literacy Coordinators and Remedial Tutors, with reports expected to be submitted to the Ministry by August 31, 2026.

Collin Nyabadza said the Government should consider supporting teachers financially if holiday lessons are to become part of examination preparation.

“It’s just unfortunate that our education ministry is led by clueless people! Why not give Grade 7, Form Four and Upper Six teachers a little allowance so that we can formalise these holiday lessons? That way, we avoid this chicanery taking place, resulting in parents being fleeced,” Nyabadza said.

The Ministry said the vacation programme is intended to give examination candidates a focused environment to prepare for their examinations and cover a significant portion of the syllabus, including outstanding Continuous Assessment activities.

The third term will open on September 8 and end on December 3, 2026, leaving parents to weigh the additional cost of the authorised holiday programme against the preparation it is expected to provide for their children.