President Emmerson Mnangagwa has indefinitely postponed the reopening of schools for the first term next year citing a spike in Covid-19 cases and deaths being recorded in the country.
Making the announcement at State House in the capital today, President Mnangagwa said only those learners who are returning to write the remainder of their 2021 Ordinary and Advanced level examinations which are due to open on January 3 will go ahead as planned.
The non-examination classes were expected to return to school on January 10.
“With the exception of examination classes which resume classes as announced by the responsible ministry, the general school calendar is hereby delayed until further notice,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Examination classes exempt from this delay are, however, expected to strictly comply with preventive public health measures.”
The current Level 2 national lockdown, he said, has been extended by another two weeks.
The start of the 2021 school calendar was also disrupted by the rising Covid-19 infections, resulting in schools closing for the third term as late as December 17 before the completion of examinations.
