Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), this week wrote a letter to the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry opposing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s decision for schools to remain open for the remaining two weeks before Term one ends.
ARTUZ National Director, Robson Chere, who signed the letter says the teachers association will not hesitate to withdraw its members in the wake of the pandemic that has left thousands of people around the world dead.
“There are no serious measures that have been put in place for every school to prepare for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS),” Chere says.
“Most schools in rural areas have been put in place for every school to prepare for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.”
To come up with the decision, ARTUZ considered that almost all schools have a population of more than 100 people who spend the day together. Zimbabwe President this week banned gatherings of a hundred people and above as a preventative measure against the coronavirus.
“Schools do not usually set end of term examinations this first term and as such, they are already winding down since we are only 2 weeks before school close,” Chere says.
“Parents for our pupils are already coming back home from abroad for the Easter holiday, it has to be noted that some of our parents are coming from countries that are hard hit by the Corona pandemic which leaves us in an exposed situation.”
ARTUZ claims to have consulted to its members before production of the letter to the Ministry.
Seemingly, in response to the concerns raised, the government decided that schools and all tertiary institutions close on Tuesday 24 March.
President Mnangagwa allowed schools to finish off the first term reiterating that it was only two weeks left.
Zimbabwe’s set 20 March 2020 as the day the measures against coronavirus are to be effected.