Mixed feelings over govt's vacation school ban

Oscar J Jeke

Parents have expressed mixed feelings over government’s announcement banning vacation school during the April holidays.

Some parents applauded the move, saying it allows pupils to rest and concentrate on other life skills.

Announcing the government decision, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Moses Mhike - following requests from schools to conduct vacation school - said that the term had progressed well with no hindrance hence there arises no need for vacation school but rather prepare pupils for the opening of the second term on May 7.

“Having consulted widely on the matter and taking cognisant of the fact that the school term had no disturbances at all to the teaching and learning program, therefore, authority is NOT GRANTED that schools facilitate a Vacation School.

“Pupils needs this holiday break to rest and engage in independent learning where need be,” Mhike said.

A father of a Grade Seven learner, Kudzanai Sharara, said kids wake up too early and the holidays offer resting time that is needed as their schedules during school days are packed.

“Controversial decision but good for the kids. My Grade 7 son is up by 5am, in class by 7am, leaves class at 4:30pm. He comes back with homework that he does till 7pm. Saturday he is in class from 7am to 1pm. Sunday the teacher sends homework. He deserves holiday break,” Sharara said.

One mother of a learner who is examinations this year said that it is paramount that children get to do other things such as acquire skills unrelated to school activities.

“I think it’s important for kids to have time out of schooling activities, it is okay for there to be no vacation school so that they can do other things as well as learn other skills,” the mother said.

Loveness Chiweshe, a mother to a Form Three girl, said that the move limits her child’s learning time as the teachers at these government schools do not use the school time period well to educate the pupils.

“My child is disadvantaged by this development because they don’t get enough time to learn during the term. The teachers cannot cover the whole subjects during that period,” Chiweshe said.

Murazvuki M. Hove, a parent from Chitungwiza and has a son who is in Form Two at a boarding school in the Midlands Province, seemed to have two minds.

“As a parent, I have two issues. Firstly, I would want my child to do well in school and obviously, vacation school could assist in one way of the other. On the other hand, and secondly too, I am also worried about the trend of greed we are cultivating – liberally – and even rewarding handsomely, and this is extra lessons.”

“While we acknowledge that civil servants are not paid well, the solution does not lie in killing the formal education system through clandestine and spooky arrangements that make parents pay for extra tuition, which at times is not offered outside the normal contact hours in the formal system.

“So, I support government in the long-term but would want schools to arrange vacation school where nominal fees will be charged to allow for the day-to-day running of the institution during that period.

“It is also interesting to note that government also sees the need to rest on the part of learners, who all along have been burdened with CALAs for the past couple of years.

“However, giving directives and decrees is one thing while how the Ministry is going to police its institutions for compliance is quite another because, without doubt, some schools and teachers have already received payment for his holiday’s learning!”

ARTUZ president, Obert Masaraure, together with Heart and Soul television journalist Blessed Mhlanga, lamented that the government has not considered those in public school who need these lessons to catch up with others.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president, Obert Masaraure also commented: “The majority of sons and daughters of peasants and workers don’t need rest, they need to catch up through more coaching. Education is now a scarce commodity for the poor.”

Mhlanga weighed in: “Parents who send their children to government schools are generally from poor to middle class, vacation school during the upcoming April holiday for Grade 7, ‘O’ and ‘A’ level candidates, and other non-exam classes. Pupils deserve a well-earned break for rest and independent learning.”

Commenting on the ban, former Mount Pleasant legislator, Fadzayi Mahere questioned the law used by the ministry to ban such learning activities, adding that it is irrational to ban such activities.

“What law permits the government to ban extra learning for students, especially those writing public exams?.

“Surely, where schools, parents and guardians deem fit, it’s best to allow students to be in a controlled school environment to help them focus as they need to do extra work on!, How is this ban rational?” Mahere said.