The government has since deferred the first term opening date for Form One learners pending finalisation of the 2021 Grade Seven examinations whose results are yet to be published.
According to a circular on the 2022 schools calendar released yesterday by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Tumisang Thabela, only 2021 Ordinary and Advanced level examination classes will open schools on January 3, 2022 to continue with their examinations while the rest of the classes will open on January 10, 2022, a week after the examination classes sit.
The 2021 schools calendar was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, a development that saw learners sit for public examinations very late.
“The ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to inform the nation and its stakeholders that only 2021 O’ and A’ level candidates with outstanding examination components will be going back to school with effect from Monday January 3, 2022 for the purposes of continuing with the examination process,” said Thabela.
“Due to the still pending processing and finalisation of the 2021 Grade Seven examination process, the 2022 Form One cohort of learners will have their opening date deferred until the Grade Seven national results are released.”
Thabela said parents and guardians who wish to send their children to boarding schools were advised to apply on the Ministry’s electronic platform: www.emap.co.zw
“The selection of learners for both boarding and day schools will be done by school heads as soon as the Grade Seven results are out,” she said.
According to the permanent secretary, the full 2022 academic calendar is as follows:
First Term begins Monday January 10, 2022 and ends Thursday April 7, 2022.
The Second Term begins Monday May 9, 2022 and will end Thursday August 4, 2022 while the Third Term will begin on Monday September 5, 2022 and ending on Thursday December 1, 2022.
“The opening date for all primary school learners 2022 ECD A to Grade Seven as well as continuing classes at Secondary level (2022 From Two, Three, Four and Upper Six learners is still January 10 2022 as prescribed by the Permanent Secretary’s academic school calendar as initially announced,” Thabela said.
“The Ministry advises its clients and stakeholders that the wearing of facial masks, handwashing as well as social distancing are a must in the fight against Covid-19 at all schools and other learning institutions as we prepare for the safe opening of schools,” Thabela said.
