By ALICE NACHILEMBE
National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) says only 40 percent of public schools are prepared for opening on February 1, after a nationwide monitoring of schools.
NAQEZ Executive Director Aaron Chansa said the monitoring was to independently ascertain schools’ readiness for 2021 term one opening, amidst the deadly wave of the COVID-19.
Mr Chansa said only 40 percent of these visited schools were ready because they met most of the Ministry of Health COVID-19 health guidelines for schools.
He said of schools visited 35 percent had infra-red thermometers, 30 percent had adequate desks, 25 percent had hand sanitizers and 49 percent of schools had adequate hand washing facilities.
Mr Chansa said that more needs to be done to prepare the schools for opening, especially at a time like this when the virus is clearly more vicious and more teachers have died from it.
“NAQEZ passionately invites the business community in Zambia and well-wishers to help Government by donating various items to help fight the Coronavirus in learning institutions. The Government alone may not manage this deadly pandemic. Our position is that schools be allowed to open on 8th February, 2021 in order to allow the Ministry of General Education supported by the business community and other well-wishers to avail COVID-19 funds to schools” he said.
