Acting President, Vice President Chiwenga who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has said schools can reopen in three weeks’ time.
He made the announcement in a statement that also extended the lockdown.
Chiwenga said schools should be given at least one week after the next two-weeks lockdown extension, to put preventive public health measures in place before the commencement of the general school calendar depending on the prevailing Covid-19 situation at that time.
The former military boss said teachers and students will be required to wear face masks while in class while all eligible teachers and students are encouraged to be vaccinated for COVID- 19 before the opening of schools.
Chiwenga also urged enforcement officers to conduct regular assessments of compliance in learning institutions, at least on a weekly basis.
The Government late last year delayed the implementation of the 2022 general school calendar indefinitely saying the country was still battling with the Omicron coronavirus variant that is characterised by high infection rates.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) had scheduled schools to resume on the 10th of January.
In his address to the nation on New Year’s eve, President Emmerson Mnangagwa delayed school “until further notice.”
He said only examination classes, – Ordinary Level and Advanced Level candidates, were exempted from the directive and will sit for the remaining papers as previously communicated.
