Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
GOVERNMENT has permitted some schools to conduct free holiday lessons for classes that would be writing public examinations this year.
Early this year, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education banned the extra lessons saying teachers and school authorities were using them to fleece parents.

Announcing the ban, government argued that the 13 weeks allocated to every school calendar were adequate for pupils to complete their syllabi.

However, towards the end of the second term, government announced that those who wanted to conduct the holiday lessons should first apply to the education ministry that would then decide whether or not to grant permission based on the reasons each school gave.

Bulawayo Provincial Education Director Dan Moyo yesterday said some schools in the province had complied with the ministry’s directive to first seek permission before conducting the holiday lessons.

“A number of schools applied to conduct holiday lessons but I don’t have the exact number of schools that applied offhand. In their applications they were citing that their children were behind in their syllabi while others said the children were seriously affected by the 2008-2009 period and wanted to make up for it,” said Moyo.

He said the lessons were being conducted free of charge as it was stipulated in a government circular to schools.

The circular said the extra lessons would be considered for classes sitting for Grade 7, Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations or for pupils compensating loss of learning time, and limited infrastructure.

 

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