teachers across
Zimbabwe has defied a government threat against teachers taking lessons during holidays, insisting the practice is banned because there is no law prohibiting it.
It comes as some schools, including a police-run school, hold holiday classes for exam classes.
The government recently banned schools from holding lessons during the holiday in a circular dated 25 March 2024, saying pupils needed a break because learning during the first term had not been interrupted.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Taungana Ndoro told NewsDay that 0.001% of schools defied government directives not to hold classes during the holidays.
“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education stresses the importance of adhering to the directives regarding school leave during the April holidays,” Ndoro said.
“Schools that breach this guidance may face appropriate disciplinary action. It is vital that pupils’ wellbeing and independent learning are prioritized during this break.
Ndoro said the government aims to adhere to its directives 100%.
“Specific disciplinary measures for schools that violate this directive will be determined by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education,” he said. The Ministry will assess each case individually and apply the necessary disciplinary measures to ensure compliance with the directives and safeguard the welfare of pupils.
But teachers’ representatives have vowed to confront the government if their members are victimized, arguing that teaching is not a criminal offence.
They also claimed it was discriminatory because elite private schools freely offered extra lessons.
According to the circular seen by NewsDay, Sandon Academy, a private school in Masvingo, has approved holiday lessons deemed compulsory for Form 3 to Form 6 learners from 28 March to 11 April 2024.
Learners paid US$270 for this period.
Riverton Academy, another private school in Masvingo, will start holiday classes today, charging US$600 for three weeks for Years 4 and 6 pupils.
NewsDay has also established that Commissioner General of Police Godwin Matanga has approved vacation classes for the Zimbabwe Republic Police Secondary School, located in Hatcliffe, Harare, which will hold vacation classes starting from April 4 to 15, 2024 and also from April 19 to 30. 2024.
The ZRP program charges $100 for internal learners and $159 for external learners for two-week periods.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Progressive Teachers Union secretary-general, Raymond Magongwe, said teachers would defy the ban.
“The most important question we ask is: Why does the government want to criminalize good effort? No teacher spends time with learners to discourage their performance. Extra lessons are in good faith. What is the law that criminalizes teaching?” he asked rhetorically.
“Teachers are professionals and practice what they are trained to do. Have we seen soldiers and policemen being punished for providing their services in private? Why does the government hate teachers so much?”
“The government should tell us the law under which classes are prohibited during holidays. We are ready to confront anyone who harasses teachers because of the practice of their profession. Has the government been accused of failing to provide basics to schools as stipulated in the Constitution?
National School Heads’ Association of Zimbabwe secretary-general Munyaradzi Majoni said the government’s directives contradicted parents’ desire to improve their children’s performance in school.
“The ministry should not be barking up the wrong tree,” Magoni said.
“No school has challenged its vacation school order no matter how clearly irrational it is.
“As school administrators, we told the department that by banning schools during vacation for candidates, they are clearly promoting a black market version of the same thing.
“We know that parents are not comfortable with their nominated children this year being at home for 39 days and therefore, it is the same parents who are choosing to send their children to those unregistered private schools to access the necessary education that was blocked in the formal market.
“As far as we know, there is no public school involved in the business of holiday classes, so they will find nothing if they visit these schools.”
Zimbabwe Teachers Association Secretary General Goodwill Taderera also said schools were committed to banning classes during holidays.
“If there are any schools offering classes during the holiday, then they have defied the government. But I don’t think there are public schools that have defied the order.”
“It may be the private schools or those unregistered schools that are challenging. But our position is that if there is a circular from the ministry, it must be adhered to.” Newsday
