29 April 2020

Attention: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education
cc: Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
Public Service Commission

ARTUZ POSITION ON SCHOOL OPENING
ARTUZ welcomes the decision by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to push back schools second term opening day due to COVID 19 pandemic as we are worried with the health safety of our teachers and learners at critical moments as these.
Being concerned with:
The use of some learning Institutions as quarantine centres.
A number of learning institutions are being used to quarantine citizens returning from abroad, this will expose our learners and educators upon school opening.
Higher Teacher Pupil Ratio
The current teacher pupil ratio which is 1: 80 which is far much higher than the standard ratio which should normally be from 30 to 35 leaners per one teacher.
Learning Infrastructure
State of rural school infrastructure is in worrisome and sorry state, with the bulk of leaners learning under the tree or in semi completed buildings without proper furniture.
Limited Resources
Our teachers and learners are operating with limited resources and resorting to sharing of the few textbooks, furniture and any other learning and teaching material that can be availed.

The lack of preparedness of the health sector
The slowness in dealing with set targets on COVID19 issues. To date a total of 6834 screening and diagnostic test have been done, this number is far less initial expected 40 000 tests by end of April.
Having also gathered views from our members, learners and parents we put the following recommendations;

1. Schools only to open when the virus is contained and when reputable heath bodies such as the World Health Organisation makes a declaration of safety.
2. Postponement of the June examinations until a time when the virus is contained.
3. Disinfecting all learning Institutions before opening of schools.
4. Testing of all leaners and teachers before reopening of schools.
5. Provision of Personal Protective Equipment to both leaners and teachers
6. Provision of risk allowance to cover for all contagious infections teachers always face when conducting their day to day duties.
7. Employment of additional teaching staff to easy the higher teacher pupil ratio
8. Introduction of educational equalisation fund to help improve the learning conditions in terms of infrastructure, learning and teaching material among a plethora of issues that can help in bridging the gap between rural and urban education.

Yours Sincerely
Robson Chere
(National Secretary General)