By ALICE NACHILEMBE
National Action for Quality Education in Zambia has condemned Government announcement that selected grades will reopen schools on Thursday, August 5.
NAQEZ Executive Director Aaron Chansa said the timing is wrong and shocking to parents and teachers across the country.
Mr Chansa said the announcement has come as a shock because all Zambians were preparing for schools to reopen on August 16.
He said the latest development will undoubtedly squeeze parents economically as they will have to quickly look for money to send Children to schools, especially those whose children are in boarding Schools.
“While we all want schools to reopen, we strongly believe that the reopening should not ignore social, electoral and economic realities among the key stakeholders, Parents and Teachers. The reopening must also be systematic and consultative.
Even if schools are to reopen this week, actual teaching will be impossible, because more than 95% of our teachers are currently involved in various electoral processes. Further, almost all schools in the Country will be used as polling stations .This makes reopening of schools before elections a mission impossible. It will serve no academic purpose,” he said
Mr Chansa said instead of ambushing parents and teachers the Ministry of General Education to adjust the dates for national examinations.
He has appealed to President, Edgar Lungu,to allow learners and teachers get back to schools after elections.
