GOVERNMENT has suspended physical lectures in colleges with immediate effect as the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic.
With cases rising to 1,611 and one person reported as having succumbed in the last week to the disease, fears have simultaneously increased in the country.
Universities had resumed with those completing their studies allowed to attend lectures and write their exams.
Other classes resumed lectures from July 13, 2020.
In a statement, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation,Science and Technology Ministry Secretary Professor Fanuel Tagwira notified said this suspension was due the ever rising cases.
“It is now observed that Covid-19 cases are escalating daily and this may put the lives of students and members of staff in our institutions at high risk. In view of the foregoing, the Ministry is hereby directing that all tertiary education institutions, with immediate effect, suspend face-to-face lectures on campus and continue with e-learning,” he said.
He added that students who had returned on campus residence should leave by July 24.
“In this regard, all students should vacate halls of residence by Friday, 24 July 2020.
“The Ministry is working flat out to ensure all Institutions are adequately resourced with the necessary infrastructure to facilitate access to quality e-learning,” said Prof Tagwira.
The suspension comes on the backdrop of the government having abandoned it’s initial plans to re-open schools on the 28th of July. Teachers’ unions are on record as having stated their opposition to the opening of schools.
