05.09.
2020
Colleagues: National Association of Primary Heads carried out a research in July 2020 and below are the
findings, status core and recommendations. Up to date schools have not received any PPE MATERIALS
despite the fact that the date of opening has been set as 28.09.2020. The executive came up with 11
recommendations that have not been addressed. Our position has not changed; schools are not ready
contrary to what you have been reading in the media that NAPH declared that adequate measures have
been put in place. Measures put in place but no action on the ground. NAPH DID NOT DECLARE THAT
SCHOOLS WERE READY. The issue at hand was the feasibility of social distancing for exam classes not the
readiness in opening schools. The article that we were exposed to left out many critical issues on social
distancing where it was indicated that it will be very difficult if not impossible for many schools when
doors open to all learners .I HEREBY DECLARE THAT NAPH DID NOT DECLARE THAT SCHOOLS ARE READY,
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE TO BE MET.
RE-OPENING OF SCHOOLS: COVID 19:
NATIONAL ASSOSIATION OF PRIMARY HEADS (NAPH) is always on the ground at school level and we
are the best foot soldiers to inform any interested party on the situation that is on the ground in our
schools. Deferred opening of schools was a wise move and as NAPH we used the opportunity to
conduct our own research on readiness of schools to receive learners. Below are our findings:
PROVINCE SCHOOLS RUNNING FUMIGATION THERMOMETER SANITIZERS MASKS
THAT WATER EQUIPMENT
RESPONDE
D
BYO 19 17 0 0 0 1
Readiness % 85 % 0% 0% 0% 0.052%
HARARE 110 IIO 0 29 19 0
Readiness % 100% 0% 26.40% 17.30% 0%
MANICALAND 872 501 159 88 221 281
Readiness % 57.40% 18.20% 10.10% 25.30% 32.20%
MASH WEST 674 48 18 2 0 305
Readiness % 7.10% 3% 0.02% 0% 45.30%
MAT NORTH 428 276 2 14 1 1
Readiness % 64.50% 0.05% 0.30% 0.02% 0.02%
MAT SOUTH 513 150 0 2 0 0
MASH 522 0 0 0 0 0
CENTRAL
MASH EAST 674 18 2 0 0 0
Readiness % 29.20% 0% 0.03% 0% 0%
MASVINGO 500 139 41 44 63 213
Readiness % 27.80% 8.20% 8.80% 12.60% 42.60%
MIDLANDS 779 566 0 78 85 98
Readiness % 73% 0% 10% 10.90% 12.60%
NATIONAL 47.70% 2.90% 5.60% 6.60% 13.30%
READNESS
9 Provinces out of 10 responded on time. As at 22.07.2020
This research shows that schools are not ready to receive learners considering the guidelines set by
the WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION.
OUR VIEW: COVID 19 is a WORLD PANDEMIC which cannot be fought by an individual school. It must
be fought by the GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE AND NOT THE MINISTRY OF PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY EDUCATION ALONE; ALL MINISTRIES MUST BE HEAVILY INVOLVED.
SITUATION ON THE GROUND:
No fees being paid in schools, all schools are bankruptcy.
Water bills have not been paid since March
Wifis and landlines have been disconnected making online a pipe dream.
Electricity disconnected
SDC workers have not been paid since schools closed
Cost of doing business has gone up more than 20 times so much that it will be difficult to pay
arrears without Government intervention.Tarrifs are hiked and schools will not be able to
insure vehicles
In some schools grain FOR THE SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME is now rotting.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS:
1.The Government of Zimbabwe must rollout a Covid 19 budget before schools are opened so that all
the necessary resources are delivered to schools e.g. masks,sanitizers,thermometers,tapped water
containers ,jik the list is not exhausted.
2.That the Ministry of Health and Child Care together with the Ministry of Public Works be requested
to disinfect and fumigate all schools.
3. A clear calendar is produced and parents be directed to pay fees accordingly.
4. Schools be allowed to accept fees in all currencies as some parents in some corners of our country
have access to forex due to their Geographical location.
5. Beam funds be disbursed to all schools.
6. That local authorities be engaged so that schools are not charged commercial rates for water and
other services.
7. All broken down boreholes are repaired and a comprehensive effort be made to drill more where
they are needed.
8. That dress code is waived to allow teachers to put on PPE suits that can be washed on a daily basis.
9. Retired teachers to be replaced timeously because we cannot afford to have an unmanned class.
Teachers on indefinite sick leave and on Maternity leave must be replaced because the abnormal
situation of having 80 learners to one teacher is not normal; surely we need the new normal of social
distancing.
10.That the Ministry defines normal school enrolments. A school with 1000 learners and above will
find social distancing a myth.
11. That TEAM WORK PAYS AND WE WIN IN TEAMS NO VICTIMIZATION AT ANY LEVEL FROM ECD
UPWARDS.
THE END: We have learnt lessons that we should not forget and we pray that one day we will be back
to school in a safe environment.
CYNTHIA NKALA KHUMALO
NAPH PRESIDENT
0772390395
