Paul Nyathi

Government will this week announce the date when schools will reopen specifically to carry out public examinations following an assessment done by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education on their preparedness to reopen under new conditions and health protocols.

Schools are likely to open in September, while public examinations would take place in December and January.Exam dates will only be announced after the date when schools will reopen has been determined.

Speaking to the Sunday Mail the Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema said consultations on the new term were ongoing.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education got approval from Cabinet to start preparing for public examinations,” he said.

“We are using experience from the June 2020 examinations, which went on well as there was no Covid-19 case that was detected. Our teams from the ministry are now consulting both private, public schools, as well as parents on the reopening of schools. We are meeting teachers’ unions to consult on the dates. Later next week (this week), we will announce the dates of reopening of schools. However, we will be opening strictly for examinations.”

Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) chairperson Professor Eddie Mwenje said public exams might spill into January.

“Schools are likely to be opened in September and the announcement is probably to be made next week (this week). So, after they have made the announcement, we will then meet with the Ministry and finalise how learners should catch up. Our thinking is examinations can start in December and overlap into January 2021.”

That as it maybe, the big question remains, will children be ready for the examinations?

Source: State Media