{"id":30540,"date":"2020-11-26T19:18:31","date_gmt":"2020-11-26T17:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.com\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mixed-feelings-over-schools-shutdown-after-covid-19-outbreak"},"modified":"2020-11-26T19:18:31","modified_gmt":"2020-11-26T17:18:31","slug":"mixed-feelings-over-schools-shutdown-after-covid-19-outbreak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mixed-feelings-over-schools-shutdown-after-covid-19-outbreak","title":{"rendered":"Mixed feelings over schools\u2019 shutdown after Covid-19 outbreak"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press<\/a> – Zimbabwe<\/a>. <\/strong><\/span>By Mbekezeli Ncube<\/b> – PARENTS and guardians in Bulawayo have expressed mixed feelings over the re-opening of schools following the rapid spread of Covid-19 among hundreds of learners in some local schools.<\/p>\n

Some parents who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com Wednesday urged government to close schools immediately.<\/p>\n

Others are of a differing opinion as they urge authorities to acquire sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for distribution among learners as they attended school.<\/p>\n

Zimbabweans schools shut down end of March this year as a way of reducing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

They started re-opening in phases beginning 28 September for classes that were writing final exams this year.<\/p>\n

The last phase involved Early Childhood Development scholars, Grades one up to five pupils as well as Forms one and two students on the 9th of this month.<\/p>\n

Since then, some schools have been hit by the deadly virus with Matabeleland North\u2019s John Tallach High School most affected, with recorded 184 cases.<\/p>\n

Chinhoyi High School has recorded 57 cases while Matopo High School in Matabeleland South has reported 10 positive cases.<\/p>\n

People who spoke in interviews with NewZimbabwe.com said the only option left was to close schools before young lives are lost.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the first place, I didn\u2019t support the reopening of schools considering the state of affairs in our country but as a country which always succumbs to peer-pressure, schools were reopened and we all knew it was a disaster waiting to strike.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn future, such decisions need consultations across the board to prevent unnecessary mishaps like this,\u201d said Prince Nkosinathi Mangena.<\/p>\n

Another parent, Watchy Sibanda said the government should stop being arrogant and start listening to contrary views.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a sign of incompetence on our government; they should have listened to the people rather than rushing when they were not ready,\u201d said Sibanda.<\/p>\n

\u201cIzikolo azivalwe (just close schools,\u201d declared one Audrey.<\/p>\n

Jethro Musapingura said, \u201cClosing schools will be a good move from the government since most of the schools don\u2019t have the Covid-19 requirements in place. That would reduce the risk of our children getting infected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another parent who identified himself as Nhlanhla Nyathi said he felt sorry for school teachers who are forced to expose themselves to the hazards of contracting Covid-19 when they were earning poor salaries.<\/p>\n

Some parents however differed insisting that closing schools was not the best solution.<\/p>\n

A man called Chidzewere said shutting down schools will not stop people from getting infected by the virus which he said was now everywhere and not just only in schools.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the schools close then what? Meaning we don\u2019t have an education calendar next year. Covid-19 is everywhere,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Chidzewere said schools must keep on testing everyone, with those found positive taken under quarantine.<\/p>\n

Thando Gumede said \u201cchildren must continue learning because we have witnessed so many pregnancies during the long lockdown period; even crimes which include teenage murders\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least when they are in school, they are kept busy and away from anti-social behaviours,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Others also felt schools but continue operating but under strict Covid-19 preventive guidelines that include fumigation, sanitising, practising physical distancing, putting on face masks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. By Mbekezeli Ncube – PARENTS and guardians in Bulawayo have expressed mixed feelings over the re-opening of schools following the rapid spread of Covid-19 among hundreds of learners in some local schools. Some parents who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com Wednesday urged government to close schools immediately. Others are of a differing opinion as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":30539,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4,35,15],"tags":[1493,19],"class_list":["post-30540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-community","category-homepage-english","category-twitter","tag-africa-press","tag-zimbabwe"],"yoast_head":"\nMixed feelings over schools\u2019 shutdown after Covid-19 outbreak - zimbabwe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mixed-feelings-over-schools-shutdown-after-covid-19-outbreak\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mixed feelings over schools\u2019 shutdown after Covid-19 outbreak\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. By Mbekezeli Ncube – PARENTS and guardians in Bulawayo have expressed mixed feelings over the re-opening of schools following the rapid spread of Covid-19 among hundreds of learners in some local schools. Some parents who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com Wednesday urged government to close schools immediately. 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