Correspondent|Schools opened to a slow start on Tuesday despite some learners and teachers turning up for lessons in some schools.

There were fears that teachers would abandon their workstations on the first day of the term in protest over their conditions of service which unions want government to review.

Lessons started in earnest across the country, while teachers representatives together with other Civil Servants, continue engaging with government for improvement to their conditions of service.

Most parents said they were relieved that they had managed to send their children off to school despite the challenging economic environment.

Most of the parents expressed concern over school fees and prices of uniforms, stationery and other requirements especially for boarders.

“It has been tough. We (parents) met with authorities at my child’s school and agreed on an increase in fees. Although it was unavoidable we struggled to raise the new fees,” said Mr Ekison Mukenu.

Another parent, Mrs Elector Chakawata, said preparations for the new school term were difficult because prices kept going up.

“I went through a hard time while preparing for my son to go back to school. In the end I could not get him all the basics he needed,” she said.

Mr Tendai Maga said he had to make sacrifices to ensure that his children had all that they needed for school.

“All that I was concerned about was the living conditions for my children and the fact that they get the best education for a brighter future,” he said.