The government has raided schools to enforce compliance with the directive banning lessons during holidays amid reports that some schools have made it a tradition to conduct extra lessons for a fee.
In an interview on Friday, the Director of Communications and Advocacy at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Taungana Ndoro, confirmed the raids had taken place although he could not say how many schools had been caught on the wrong side of the law.
He said there was strict monitoring to ensure compliance.
“Yes, the ministry carries out raids on schools. This is part of efforts to ensure that our institutions adhere to the directive prohibiting the holding of vacation classes for examinations and non-exam classes.
“The number of schools is not important, at least at this stage. What is important is that we have encouraged schools to take government directives seriously by monitoring what is happening in schools,” Mr Ndoro said.
The directive not to conduct holiday learning was announced in a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Musa Miki.
He explained that they will not go to any holiday classes in schools for all grades, including examination classes, under the pretext that there is uninterrupted teaching and learning in schools, which does not require any additional learning during the school vacation.
Mr. Meke stressed the need for stakeholders to work together to ensure an end to malpractice by schools and teachers and urged citizens to notify the authorities of any schools that do not comply with the directive.
“If anyone hears of any school not complying with the guidance, please let us know,” Mr Mickey said.
However, despite the guidance and warning, some schools and teachers conducted lessons during the holidays in defiance of government guidance, with there being reports of learners being instructed not to wear uniforms in schools so as not to be easily identifiable to the schools conducting the lessons.
Inquiries by Sunday News revealed that lessons range between US$10 and US$20 per subject depending on level.
Most individual teachers who offer holiday tutoring charge $10 per subject for the duration of the holiday, and those who teach mathematics and science subjects are the most in demand.
“There is a ready market for those who teach mathematics and science subjects. It is the parents who are fueling this illegal situation that the government is trying to contain. They are willing to go the extra mile to ensure that their children get the best grades. But it is somehow taking away the trust from the school system and by not Allowing holiday classes, the government is working to restore that lost confidence.
“The safety of learners, especially girls, is also at risk for those who go for holiday lessons at home,” said one teacher who requested anonymity.
However, teachers made announcements on various social media platforms.
“Pure Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology lessons are ongoing for both O and A level classes,” reads a message on the WhatsApp group where the teacher was advertising the services. Sunday news
