The Progressive Teachers Union Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has warned the government against going ahead with plans for students to sit for the November and December public examinations this year when learners are not adequately prepared.

PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou the majority of learners are not ready for the exams since they are not able to access the government’s radio and television lessons and online learning material.

Said Zhou:
It is noteworthy that schools closed on March 24, 2020, and since then the so-called government radio and television lessons failed to take off.

Only teachers’ class and subject WhatsApp groups have been operative albeit with restrictions as data bundles are expensive and several parents and students also have no smartphones that can access WhatsApp.

Zhou said for exams to proceed, the government should put in place measures to protect educators and learners from contracting coronavirus.

He added:
It is our humble professional view that students need three months of intensive learning before writing examinations.

We certainly don’t see how the government would procure, let alone place in 10 000 schools Covid-19 abatement equipment (testing kits, thermometers, sanitisers and other PPE) and test millions of students and 136 000 teachers and 50 000 ancillary staff in order to ensure the opening of schools soon and writing of examinations in November-Daily News