By Dr Takavafira Zhou | As Ptuz we are perturbed at the death of Roman Catholic run Mukaro High School headmistress, Pauline Dzapasi, who succumbed to the novel Covid-19. Dzapasi must be saluted as an educational heroine who died in the line of duty and must receive full honour and respect from gvt including the gvt promised US$600. We therefore urge gvt to give her the educational heroine status that she deserves. There are several teachers who die or are injured in their line of duty that must also be respected, honoured and compensated.
It is noteworthy that Dzapasi headed one of the most reputable and biggest schools in Zimbabwe, where her responsibilities involved associating with fellow teachers, pupils and community members. We therefore hope the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education can trace and track all those who came into contact with her before her death, in order to combat the spread of covid 19 pandemic.
We are aware Mukaro High School is a big school with students coming from across the country. It is not the case of Mukaro High School perse but many other schools such as John Tallach, Matopos High, Mufakose High (Triangle), Dadaya High, Chibi High, Chinhoyi High, Waddilove High, Sanyati Baptist, Goromonzi High, to mention just but a few schools, where cases of covid 19 have been reported. There is need at most schools to judiciously trace and track contacts between covid 19 positive pupils and teachers and those whose status had not been determined when schools closed. This is a mammoth task that need resources, manpower and careful navigation in an attempt to foster the health and safety of pupils, teachers and community. There is, therefore, an urgent need for covid 19 risk assessment in schools before schools open for 2021 academic year. It is our humble submission to both the Ministry of Education and gvt that the opening of schools on the 4th of January would not afford such a feat given the limited time between now and the opening of schools on 4 January 2021. It is best in our view to allow the current ‘O’ and ‘A’ level students to complete the writing of 2020 examinations before contemplating the opening of schools for the 2021 academic year.
Even if it means only opening in April or May in 2021 and only having two academic terms in 2021 it would be best. The issue of testing teachers, pupils and ancillary staff before congregating in a school as well as provision of other PPEs must be taken seriously in 2021, in order to combat covid 19 pandemic. It is prudent to note we closed schools at a time there was a quantum leap of covid 19 cases, and unless we learn from our 2020 shortcomings, 2021 may be disastrous.
We hope both the Ministry and gvt would take our submission seriously as positive criticism that nourishes leadership. There is nothing more important than engagement. Above all, reforms in the education sector that are a product of logical engagement with stakeholders and receive the support of teachers are easily implement able.
Ptuz also appeals to government to address the welfare of teachers before the opening of schools so that after opening of schools teachers exert themselves fully in fostering meaningful teaching and learning. As such, social dialogue would promote industrial harmony and productivity as opposed to industrial disharmony and incapacitation. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Venceremos
Dr Takavafira M. Zhou (Ptuz President)