Government speaks on schools opening dates

GOVERNMENT has clarified that, as scheduled, schools are opening on Tuesday with students at boarding schools travelling tomorrow. 

There has been confusion with some parents thinking that schools are opening on Wednesday since Monday will be a holiday. As schools open on Tuesday, there is confusion over the issue of depositing levies into accounts controlled by the School Development Associations (SDA) that are being accused by Government of siphoning millions of dollars for personal use at the expense of schools improvements.

The Sunday Mail understands that the declaration of tomorrow as a holiday, by virtue of Workers’ Day falling on a Sunday has seen some parents, especially those whose children are boarders speculating that schools will open on Wednesday.

But the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education secretary Dr Slyvia Utete Masango said the holiday would not affect the scheduled date for opening schools, which remain Tuesday.

“There are reports that there is a circular from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education stating that schools are now opening on Wednesday because of Monday being a holiday, that is not true, the school opening dates remain unchanged,” she said.

“As you know we closed schools in March instead of April because of the Easter holiday and we cannot continue losing time, so schools are going to open on Tuesday 3 May and we expect those in boarding school to travel on Monday.”

The clarification also comes as some schools are refusing to accept school development levies from parents saying they are waiting for Government directive on which account to use.

Source: Sundaymail