HARARE – Zimbabwe’s school calendar has been revised to two semesters from three this year, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education announced on Thursday.
Schools were due to open for the second term on June 28, but a rise in COVID-19 infections led to a two-month delay.
The ministry now says schools will reopen on August 30 for exam classes and the rest of classes on September 6.
With time remaining until the end of the year, the Ministry of Education says schools will remain open until December 17 and reopen on January 11 for the first semester of 2022.
A typical school year lasts an average of 60 days. The second term this year will last 80 days and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education says schools will be allowed to raise fees to cover the extra 20 days.
Officials are still eagerly awaiting final exams for Grade 7, Form 4 and Form 6, which usually start in November.
Teachers’ unions and parents say many pupils are not ready for exams due to learning disabilities caused by COVID-19 and have proposed that tests be postponed until the first half of next year.
