FOR schoolchildren and teachers, the holiday season is finally over.
It is now back to serious business, as some boarders started returning to school yesterday, while most are expected to report to their learning institutions today, and classes resume in earnest tomorrow.
Some will stay at home for a few more days following a Government directive that learners must not travel to their boarding schools in Manicaland and Masvingo provinces, as a precaution following a heavy rains and floods alert issued by the Department of Civil Protection and the Meteorological Services Department last week.
Most day scholars in areas not affected by heavy rains also return to school tomorrow.
However, this is not going to be a usual school term, as a lot of changes are expected to be effected.
For instance, some boarding schools were in the past two years required to limit the number of learners in their hostels to curb the spread of Covid-19.
With the situation now under control, most of the schools have reverted to their standard intakes.
According to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, there are currently 10 147 public boarding schools, with 7 081 of them being primary schools.
For the 2023 first term, there were approximately 30 000 boarding places that were available for Form Ones.
These places have since been filled up.
School fees payment methods would probably be another area of interest for many parents.
Government has since indicated that it is not illegal for schools to peg fees in United States dollars. Such payments should, however, be optional.
“Pegging fees in United States dollars is not disallowed, but exclusive payment in USD is not mandatory. Parents can pay in local currency at the prevailing interbank rate,” said Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education communications and advocacy director Mr Taungana Ndoro.
Concern
According to Mr Ndoro, schools and teachers that are arm-twisting parents to pay for extra lessons will be charged and penalised.
The Sunday Mail Society established that last year, some parents were forced to pay for extra lessons or risk having their children fail their examinations.
Pegged between US$2 and US$5 per learner, per week, and depending on the school and level, those who could not afford the fees were denied access to the lessons.
While the phenomenon was not new, it was the latest twist to it that worried the public. In the past, the extra lessons were conducted in backyards after school hours or during weekends.
However, the lessons were now being conducted in schools. Teachers were neglecting the normal lessons in favour of the extra ones.
Learners whose parents cannot afford the extra lessons are usually sent out to play, while their paid-up classmates remain in class and attend lessons.
“We received reports on paid-for extra lessons and we dealt with the cases decisively.
“Please, note that extra lessons, by their nature, are not banned but what is not allowed is the ‘paid-for’ part,” Mr Ndoro said.
“Some schools are still officially conducting extra lessons to cover lost ground due to the Covid-19-induced lockdowns.
“They are, however, not allowed to request payment for the lessons.”
Beyond extra lessons, some teachers were also accused of demanding appreciation gifts from learners.
Some cunning teachers had crafted a “bring-and-share” day on which learners would bring goodies to share as an expression of love and appreciation for each other.
The learners were also asked to bring gifts for their teachers on that day.
“My daughter’s classmate brought an expensive handbag for her teacher, while other learners brought small gifts,” said a concerned parent.
Protecting learners
Concerns have also been raised over the modes of transport learners are using to and from school.
In the previous year, reports filtered through that some learners, mostly girls, were being abused by public transport drivers and conductors.
Those who operate pirate taxis, which are better known as mishikashika, were reported to be the major culprits.
Some vehicle owners who offer school run services have been accused of putting the lives of schoolchildren at risk. Packed like sardines, the children are made to sit on each other’s laps in the cars while some stand. There is hardly space to move in the event of an accident.
Zimbabwe Schools Development Associations and Committees’ secretary-general Mr Everisto Jongwe called for the introduction of vehicles that will exclusively cater for the needs of learners in different towns and cities across the country.
“Government should consider providing specific shuttles for learners. It is easier to control and protect them if they have their own transport that collects and drops them off at specific points,” he said.
Mr Jongwe said: “In the meantime, parents need to prioritise their children’s safety by pooling resources and jointly hire buses for their movements to and from school.”
To curb the abuse of learners, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education last year dispatched teams to various provinces to assess and gather information on issues such as child abuse, school dropouts and teen pregnancies.
Health committees were set up in schools, while career guidance and counselling sessions were also revived.
As the new term begins, said Mr Jongwe, a lot still needs to be done to protect learners from all forms of abuse.
He urged parents to make sure their children are attending classes by constantly getting in touch with the school authorities for progress reports.
Ms Cathrine Musengwa of Kambuzuma, Harare, was heartbroken after discovering that her Form Three daughter had not been attending classes for close to a month.
She got a tip-off from a neighbour, who had also revealed to her that the daughter had joined a gang that abused drugs and alcohol.
The group would spend the day taking drugs and alcohol at a house in the neighbourhood.
“I was heartbroken, especially after the teacher confirmed that she was in the habit of skipping school . . . It is important for parents to always communicate with the teachers,” she said.
This, she added, will also help parents to learn if their children are performing well in school and know the areas in which they need assistance.
Tendai, a student at Zengeza High One in Chitungwiza, weighed in and suggested that the Government also needs to consider allowing learners to attend school even if they are not fully paid up.
This, he said, will reduce chances of learners’ exposure to drug and substance abuse.
Psychologist Keith Chakanyuka says most learners need psychological support, as they may be traumatised following child sexual abuse cases that happened last year.
He said schools should engage educational and child psychologists to assess and prepare learners for the opening of the new term.
“Effects of such cases take long to manifest.
“There is need for all stakeholders to put all their hands on the deck, and help their children,” Mr Chakanyuka said.
