TEACHERS’ Unions have expressed shock over announcement by goverment Monday that examination classes are set to reopen, saying the decision was done prematurely and could expose more people to the deadly coronavirus.
In a Press statement, the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) said the move was ill-timed and would increase the vulnerability of students and teachers since returnees from hard-hit regions would also be returning into the country in large numbers.
“Re-opening of schools while hordes of people from the diaspora are being bused in from COVID-19 infested regions might be just as good as opening the Pandora’s box,” read the Press statement.
Zimta said the move was ill-planned as government was currently converting school premises into COVID-19 centres.
“There is, therefore, no room for schools to conduct their businesses.
“This raises the simple question: Where are these classes expected to be carried out if these institutions are being used as quarantine centres?
“The quarantine process of returnees has been marred by the huge influx of boarder jumpers who are taking advantage of some of the countries’ porous boarder posts, leaving the country vulnerable to further infections,” said the teachers’ representative body.
Zimta also said there was risk in maintaining social distancing in schools as many classes in the country were crowded and there was shortage of proper infrastructure.
“Taking a closer look at the Zimbabwean education set up vis -a- vis the World Health Organisation guidelines on social distancing, we can already see that there is conflict.
“Average classes have a teacher-to-pupil ratio of about 1: 60 and such a large class cannot ensure effective social distancing.
“The alternative would be to split the classes, which in turn requires the employment of other teachers,” Zimta added.
The teacher representative body further said government was supposed to provide adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) but with the precedence set with industries, there was no way government will be able to provide those.
“Availability of PPEs in schools is another area of concern.
“Looking at the way government has handled industry by merely giving instruction without the financial backing in regards to the issue of testing employees, it leaves a lot to be desired.
“Schools, most of which have dried-up coffers, are in no position to avail PPEs to educators and pupils, leaving this burden in the hands of government,” Zimta said.
The move by Zimta comes barerly two days after Teacher’s Unions in neighbouring South Africa have orderd their members not to go to work until adequate measures had been put in place to protect teachers and students.
Worldwide, schools remain closed except for some schools in European, Oceanic and American countries.
Schools in these continents have begun to operate at low-scale but under strict conditions in order to avoid the further spread of COVID-19.