Lusaka ~ Wed, 13 Jan 2021
By Brightwell Chabusha
The Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ) has maintained its position that the environment is not conducive for the reopening of schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
PROTUZ Director for Public Relations and International Affairs Brian Mwila says the second wave of COVID 19 being experienced in the country at present is proving dangerous because it is claiming people’s lives day by day.
He disclosed that teachers have added numbers to COVID-19 deaths that the country has recorded so and many of them were living in fear.
Mwila said it would be less risky for only examination classes to return to school on Monday next week.
“The Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ) wishes to stand its earlier position (press release of 6th January 2021) that the school environment is currently not safe for mass gatherings as reopening of schools for first term on 18th January 2021 draws near,” he said.
“The Union shares the same feeling and concern with the Ministry of General Education about the future of a Zambian child and as such if the Ministry still maintains that schools reopens on 18th January 2021 amidst this COVID challenges then it would be less risky to only allow examination classes to return on 18th January 2021 in the interim. This decision will in a way try to work in conformity with the new directive from the Sectetary to Cabinet in circular minute of 2020 issued on 7th January 2021 on work arrangements to curb the spread of COVID 19.”
He however called upon the Ministry of Health to urgently guide the general public on the reopening of schools.
Meanwhile, health minister Jonas Chanda today said the ministry will hold a consultative meeting with the Ministry of General Education and other ministers to discuss the reopening of schools, among other issues, amid the pandemic.
14 Comments
NIZA
2020 WAS BAD YEAR FOR US PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHERS.WHATS WRONG KANSHI?
JÖSPÂTËÇH
Let schools open on 18 January 2021 if you really care about your child you better keep him/her home he or she will come and continue with education after this pandemic.
Dalio Grayson
Prevention is better than cure, l end here
Asoza
Let’s hear from the technocrats first before anybody else makes their own decisions. For me my child will stay hone till the coast is clear.
WILLIAM SIWO
Schools should not open on 18th January 2021 because of 2 major reasons.
The first reason is about the deadly pandemic which we can say has now hit the entire Nation in terms of Districts. Almost all towns in the country have recorded some cases and deaths of Covid 19 between December 2020 and January 2021. Our Health Authorities have warned seriously that the second wave is spreading very fast and is very deadly affecting everyone in our communities including Teachers, Doctors, Nurses just to mention a few.
The second reason is about Floods. We have been warned by the Zambia Metrology Department that we will experience floods in many parts of the country and truly we have seen floods since December last year. We have seen many schools, bridges and other infrastructure damaged as a result of heavy down poll in many areas of our country. Floods are Natural phenomenon which we cannot have so much control on. Some Schools are very far from homes especially in rural areas. The Rainfall pattern for this season has always been Heavy thereby making it difficult to move from one place to the other especially in rural areas. The only challenge we have is about those in Examination Classes and the upkeep of Private Teachers.
My final submission is that schools should not open on 18th January 2021. Let the Ministry of Health, Education and other stakeholders discuss the way forward. God Bless Mother Zambia
MR MOYO A
Y when time 4 pupils 2 learn z delayed?
Nathan Mwansa Chola
If it is not possible to reopen schools on 18th January it’s better the examination classes to open first
Simon
Let the examination classes open first
ABEL M BETA DHEWA
LET SCHOOL OPEN BY 18TH JAN
Schools are supporst to open early so that pupils can be able to cover more, because we have observed that some pupils are going to g9,g12,g11 without finishing the work for the grades for last year ,now when are they going to cover that work for them to write the exam? Let the schools open and make sure that their is total prevention for covid_19.schools must open by monday 18 jan 2021 because you have already delayed time for pupils to learn.
Geoffrey
What of if the pandemic continues until December, what will happen to the learners? We just have to adapt to the situation and learn to live with the virus.
Frank Mutasa
School must open on 18th January if u take it in this way u will kill yourselves no time and remember tuya tulekulaka.
Sims joe
Ministry of health layed down the preventive measures to follow when they opened schools last year… can someone explain the different techenic of preventive measures government will lay out different from previous everyone know?plz plz Allow schools to open,no one will help private institutions their daily needs.only those in gorvmnt won’t feel the impact..help us help mother Zambia….
Matafwali hope
Pliz let schools open we ar behind very much now how will we cover ther previous work and will we write the exms
davidahchilufye
Pls let schools open the children are very much behind just have to learn to stay with it