News / National
Schools face penalties over holiday lessons
2 hrs ago |
45 Views
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo has warned schools against forcing learners to attend holiday lessons, saying institutions that violate Government regulations will face penalties.
Moyo said Government inspectors would continue monitoring schools to ensure that approved vacation lessons benefit examination candidates without depriving learners of adequate rest during the holidays.
Under the regulations, only examination classes — Grade 7, Form 4 and Form 6 — are permitted to attend lessons during the August holiday.
"It's prudent that learners get time to rest. We are disturbed by the developments happening in our schools, particularly during the holidays," said Moyo.
"We have observed that if students attend classes continuously without any breaks, they are likely to be affected mentally and psychologically, and the result is that they become fatigued."
Moyo said the ministry had observed that some schools, both in rural and urban areas, were disregarding Government regulations by conducting lessons throughout the holiday.
"We have observed that most schools in both rural and urban areas are not giving learners time to rest," he said.
"They are defying Government regulations on the importance of learners having time to be with their parents, particularly during school holidays."
The minister said approved holiday lessons were limited to 10 days, running from August 7 to 20.
Government has also capped fees for the lessons at US$2 for Grade 7, US$3 for Form 4 and US$5 for Form 6, or the equivalent amount in ZiG at the prevailing bank rate.
However, some boarding schools are reportedly charging between US$150 and US$200 for two weeks of holiday lessons for Ordinary and Advanced Level classes.
At primary level, some schools are allegedly charging between US$25 and US$60 for the two-week period.
Moyo said Circular Number 7 of 2026 clearly stipulates that holiday lessons are only permitted for learners preparing to sit public examinations in November.
He warned that schools flouting the regulations would face disciplinary action.
"We're issuing a directive that any school that is defiant of Government policy will be penalised," said Moyo.
"The only classes that are supposed to attend holiday lessons in August are those sitting their final examinations."
Moyo said Government inspectors would continue monitoring schools to ensure that approved vacation lessons benefit examination candidates without depriving learners of adequate rest during the holidays.
Under the regulations, only examination classes — Grade 7, Form 4 and Form 6 — are permitted to attend lessons during the August holiday.
"It's prudent that learners get time to rest. We are disturbed by the developments happening in our schools, particularly during the holidays," said Moyo.
"We have observed that if students attend classes continuously without any breaks, they are likely to be affected mentally and psychologically, and the result is that they become fatigued."
Moyo said the ministry had observed that some schools, both in rural and urban areas, were disregarding Government regulations by conducting lessons throughout the holiday.
"We have observed that most schools in both rural and urban areas are not giving learners time to rest," he said.
"They are defying Government regulations on the importance of learners having time to be with their parents, particularly during school holidays."
The minister said approved holiday lessons were limited to 10 days, running from August 7 to 20.
Government has also capped fees for the lessons at US$2 for Grade 7, US$3 for Form 4 and US$5 for Form 6, or the equivalent amount in ZiG at the prevailing bank rate.
However, some boarding schools are reportedly charging between US$150 and US$200 for two weeks of holiday lessons for Ordinary and Advanced Level classes.
At primary level, some schools are allegedly charging between US$25 and US$60 for the two-week period.
Moyo said Circular Number 7 of 2026 clearly stipulates that holiday lessons are only permitted for learners preparing to sit public examinations in November.
He warned that schools flouting the regulations would face disciplinary action.
"We're issuing a directive that any school that is defiant of Government policy will be penalised," said Moyo.
"The only classes that are supposed to attend holiday lessons in August are those sitting their final examinations."
Source - Pindula
Join the discussion
Loading comments…
