No more rotational attendance in schools

No more rotational attendance in schools - MOPSE

Nigeria: Stakeholders tasked on training out-of-school children — Nigeria — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Zim Now Writer

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has instructed schools to abandon the rotational attendance at schools which was done to minimise Covid-19 infections.

The Ministry announced that all schools should return to the normal five-day learning week starting from today, Monday, May 8..

In a statement, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Tumisang Thabela, said rotational attendance was introduced in August 2021 as a response to rising COVID-19 cases but this has now been cancelled with immediate effect.

She, however, urged schools to follow standard procedures and boarding schools to avoid overcrowding as the coronavirus is still a threat.

“Given that there has been a relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions in the country and in accordance with the citizenry to consider being vaccinated, alternate attendance to school by learners as stipulated in the previous circulars is hereby cancelled with immediate effect.

“However, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education reiterates the need for strict and close observance of the standard operating procedures in all schools.

“Boarding schools should not enrol beyond their capacities and overcrowd pupils,” she said.

The World Health Organisation last week declared that COVID-19 is no longer a global public health emergency.

Thabela also said all schools, public and private, must accept all forms of payment for school fees and levies.

“All modes of payment currently obtained in Zimbabwe shall be acceptable for fees and levies settlement. Requests by schools for payment in a specific currency are not acceptable.

“Parents or guardians opting to pay fees in US dollars or in Rand should be allowed to do so calculated against the prevailing bank rate on the authorised fee and levy structure and receipted, banked and expended as such up to the acquittal point,” Thabela added.

The Ministry’s spokesperson Taungana Ndoro ordered schools to desist from illegal fee hikes as the 2023 Second Term commences.