Parents and learners call for exams postponement

By Thandeka Matebesi

Parents and children from Matabeleland have said that there is need for the government to consider postponing the examination dates for final year students to next year as children are not ready to write.

Speaking at a meeting attended by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education, Civic Society, parents and children at the Rainbow Hotel organized on Tuesday, both parents and learners said learners had not had much time to prepare for exams during the lockdown.

“Children have changed a lot during the lockdown, there is need for teachers and parents to work together in redirecting and molding behavior,” said Sazini a parent from Gwanda.

“Young people in Robert Sinyoka are now entrepreneurs, they now swim and fish in Khami Dam which is a health hazard. They use the money to buy drugs. There are no secondary schools close by, students have to go through bushes to access schools in nearby locations. There is no electricity so children did not access radio and online lessons, added Charity, a Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) Community Advocate.

Tabeth Ndlovu a grade 7 student said: “When schools closed in March we were told it is because of COVID-19 which spreads through gatherings, now how do we know we will not catch it?”

“I cant say candidates are prepared to write in two months because before the lockdown we didnt have notes, teachers asked us to find notes on our own. Those who have gadgets have managed to gather notes while those of us who do not have access to technological gadgets still do not have notes or anything to read. We ask that we be given more time to catch up so that we produce better results,” empasised Bridget Jackson a form four student.

Parents also revealed that they were being made to clean school premises without adequate cleaning materials in preparation of schools reopening.

“Young children were the ones who cleaned school premises at Mafela Primary School and they were only sanitised upon entry into classrooms. There are also too many demands on the part of parents, we were told to pay R100 for purchasing sanitisers.

Furthermore, at Amavene Primary School parents were also told to clean without being provided with proper cleaning materials,” said Patricia Ncube from Nkulumane.

WOZA Director Jenni Williams said that there was need to look at environmental factors that might disturb learning.
“In Bulawayo there is a 144 hour water shedding program and how students will wash their hands is not known”.

“While we look at the availability of water in schools, guidelines of COVID-19, there is need to look at environmental factors, as to how children have been affected by the lockdown. Some students are already engaging in sexual activities, while some are now entrepreneurs selling different wares”, said Williams