Thirty-three schools in Manicaland Province recorded a zero percent pass-rate during the 2021 Ordinary Level ZIMSEC examinations, a development that has raised concern among stakeholders, with some calling for investigations on the causes of such a dismal performance. During 2020 exams, Manicaland had 45 secondary schools with a zero percent pass-rate, which means the 2021…
Cabinet okays joint ventures for schools
Mukudzei Chingwere-Herald Reporter
Practical subjects will be commercialised in schools through fostering joint ventures with private investors and this will upgrade the education system and start allowing a flow of profits that can help parents cope with school fees.
Cabinet last week approved a two-pronged teaching approach aimed at profit-making and academic excellence, with schools now expected to venture into commercial activity for practical subjects, said Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa.
“The Ministry (of Primary and Secondary Education) will promote commercial ventures in schools through use of land and space available to schools,” she said.
All in place for teachers’ inoculation
Debra Matabvu
The GOVERNMENT has undertaken to vaccinate all teachers who are prepared to receive Covid-19 immunisation jabs immediately after schools reopen next week as authorities ramp up efforts to create a safe learning environment.
Authorities are doubling efforts to procure more doses in preparation for the second phase of the national vaccination programme, which targets to inoculate lecturers at tertiary institutions, teachers and others at medium risk from the respiratory virus.
Last week, the World Health Organisation-led Covax facility allocated 984 000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to Zimbabwe under a revised allocation schedule published by the global vaccine alliance.
Short holidays under new school calender
Herald Reporter
While the school calendar for this year is still being finalised it is likely that there will be three normal-length terms each of 60 teaching days, meaning exceptionally short school holidays once weekends and public holidays have been taken into account.
Already yesterday, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said schools would not break for the traditional first school holidays incorporating the Easter and Independence Day holidays, but there would be no classes on these public holidays.
Normally when schools can open for the first term early in January the first term ends shortly before the big batch of late March and April public holidays with the second term ending just before the Heroes and Defence Forces long weekend.