President Edgar Lungu has announced, with caution, that the reopening of schools, slated for Monday, 18th January 2021, will
be delayed for two weeks to allow all education institutions to put in place covid-19 health guidelines aimed at protecting learners and teachers.
The President has since directed the Minister of Education and the Minister of Higher Education, in conjunction with other sectors, such as the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Local Government, to be “on top of things” and ensure all schools are ready for re-opening on Monday, 13″ February 2021, as the resumption of learning will depend on how ready each learning institution is.
The President is also aware of the financial challenges parents go through after the festive season and hopes they will use the two weeks to adequately prepare for the reopening of schools. President Lungu is concerned that there is a surge in covid-19 cases at the time the schools were to reopen and has heard the submissions of various stakeholders, including parents, guardians, and political leaders, hence the decision to delay the reopening.
“1 have heard the concerns of parents, guardians and other stakeholders, therefore, this decision is aimed at ensuring institutions of learning prepare adequately, and strictly adhere to public health regulations, guidelines, and certification, and also to allow for satisfactory, and adequate preparedness by ll relevant authorities, including parents and guardians,” the President has said.
The President will allow the reopening of schools in the context of living With the covid-19 pandemic under the New Normal, meaning the observance of masking up, social distancing, and hand-washing with Soap will be key. At home, remedies like steaming” (Ukufutikila) are also key.
President Lungu is cognisant of the threat covid-19 poses on populations and stresses that the protection of learners should not only be left to school authorities but that parents have a key role to play because the virus can only be transported to schools from homes.
The President also adds that closing schools indefinitely because of covid-9, as well, is not the answer because “we do not know when this disease will go away or whether it will go at all,” as espoused by the World Health Organisation.
The President further adds that the experience of last year when learners lost about seven months of learning and the subsequent period of reopening up to December when schools adopted the New Normal “teaches us that compliance to covid-19 health guidelines is the key to protecting learners as well as ensuring their education and career paths are not ruined.”
The President says, “Last year we heard of sad stories arising from the closure of schools due to covid-19 There were various juvenile delinquencies that destroyed the lives of some of the learners due to long stay at home. Digital platforms, as well, only helped children from well to do families. Even then there was no teacher-pupil contact and supervising children to be on computers was not the easiest task for parents.”
He adds, “Among the less privileged families in towns and rural areas, learners lost out because they do not have access to computers. So we have also learned from experience that staying at home is not the best for Our young ones. The President emphasized that the decision taken on reopening of schools may be varied depending on how covid-19 evolves and urged citizens not to politicize the fight against covid-19 because the disease has no political boundaries.
“We are in it together, let us fight covid-19 as one. I, further encourage citizens to embrace ‘steaming’ (Ukufutikia), using eucalyptus and other recommended herbs. Home-based herbal remedies can save lives, too,” the President said.
The President adds, “Depending on how the pandemic evolves, I will come back to provide further measures and guidance.
It’s a very wise decision. We are in a pandemic and life comes first. You can always re educate children but you cannot bring them back to life. The upnd diasporans will disagree with this and yet the countries they have run away to are doing the same. They would rather see zambian children die because that is how they feed their souls and party. Sataninsts.
Anyway it is Friday today, I wont let them spoil my mood. I am complying with the rules and drinking from home. Enjoy the weekend and stay away from side chicks. Mine is far away in Russia kiki
Ati Bantu bazadya ma school fees … Takwaba cisuma ,???
I agree with Brother Kaizar. This is a Timely and Wise Counsel, Guidance and Direction from our beloved President, His Excellence Dr, Edgar Chagwa Lungu. In Zimbabwe they have closed schools indefinitely. Life is more precious and expensive than anything. That’s what was actually expected from many parents. I know there will still be some mediocre somewhere trying to prove they are wiser than the President. Kikiki !
Great step by the president..it gives schools more time to prepare
The listerning presido
Aba nabo….awe mwe
Great step taken to postpone the reopening of schools…we shouldnt take chances with Covid.
Is it 13th or 1st Feb 2021? Thank you.
Decision welcome, your excellence. This scourge does not need casual approach. We need real practical measures in place in our schools.
Ba president ZNBC is for you to talk to us a nation of such and other issues facing this nation.
Listen to people who are calling on you to address the nation.
The peoe have paid for school fees yet this money could ve directed to the equally important issues if only you listened to the call of the citizens. Look at confusion in communication from your govt ps particularly education. Instead of working with the colleagues from health he went ahead and inform the nation of the set date of 18th January 2021.
Mr president can you please in God’s name show the minimum leadership requested of you.
Aba Bena babwelako FYI…. Marubb1sh
Thank you your Excellency. This is welcome, we can’t risk children’s lives when there is a new strain whose characteristics we are yet to fully understand.
Way To Go Good Advice Sir
I think boarding schools are easier to manage and quarantine and must be planned for slightly differently, My calendar definitely has no Monday 13th Feb 2021.
The Ghetto president
In the pyuuuu pyuuuu. We are drinking at home
This is a good step your excellence
Are you sure 13 February will be on a Monday?
We wish the schools the best as they prepare
A president with a listening ear
Twalafwaya bwino indalama fwebashimbe by 13 chawama but don’t include more days abana balaonaika.
Thanks your Excellency
We thank our Excellency for the extension
Kateka wachikuku
While the delay may be welcome the reason forwarded I think is ‘fake’.
To allow education institutions to put in place covid-19 preventive health guidelines. These health guidelines are no different from the previous ones put during the first wave. There’s nothing new schools are already aware and have experience of that. Infact guidelines have always been in place since the first wave because Covid-19 wasn’t officially declared over.
In any case what were the schools doing during holidays to warrant a holiday extension during which they are expected to put things in place. They could have done so between closing date and 18/01/2021.
That’s why I say the justification used is fake.
LT, why do you delay in uploading my comments? I still maintain my opinion that it will be a miracle if schools will be able to address the Covid issues within two weeks. The schools were closed last year for about 8 months which should have given enough time for government/ ministry of education to effectively prepare all schools in addressing Covid issues for the school staff, pupils and parents. Not long ago, a Ministry of Education official or was it the Minister, postponed the opening of schools from 4th January to 18th January? What has been happening during this postponed period. Now the President has postponed the opening of schools from 18th January to 1st February or is it 13th February to prepare schools? The solution is not in continuous postponements, but clear actions which…
When is the reopening of schools kanshi is it on the 1st February or 13th February which is which people