Reopening day hurdles

TODAY examination classes across the country open schools in line with President Edgar Lungu’s directive to avoid disturbing learning amid the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The Presidential directive spurred a flurry of preparations by schools themselves in collaboration with the Ministry of General Education and its multi-sectoral partners. The preparations included the production and distribution of face masks and sanitisers for the pupils, disinfecting of schools and repairing of the water supply and sanitation, among others. Indeed, the preparations that on Thursday culminated into Vice President Inonge Wina flagging off the distribution of the protective materials to schools, are commendable. The unity and support by all those involved in the preparations cannot be ignored. These efforts by stakeholders and other multi-sectoral partners such as councils, the corporate world and individual business persons and other entities in helping schools ensure pupils are safe from Covid-19 when they resume classes, under the new normal have been unprecedented and inspiring. But while this may be so, there are still some concerns in some circles that a good number of the rural schools may not be fully prepared to receive the pupils today as classes resume. We have in mind apprehensions raised by the National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) and the Medical for Quality Healthcare in Zambia (MQHZ). According to the two organisations, most rural schools will need another two weeks to prepare to and enable them receive all the protective equipment before allowing pupils back. The two organisations said after jointly monitoring 631 schools across the country between May 22 and 28, three quarters of the rural schools were not yet ready for reopening. Of the schools monitored, 413 were primary and 218 were secondary schools. But similar concerns have been expressed as regards some private schools where some owners feel they might not meet the required health guidelines before they can reopen because of financial blues. A private school owner in Lusaka’s Mtendere East Alfred Phiri said most private schools were financially handicapped as some parents had not yet finished paying the fees and worse still, some community schools did not have running water. As a result, the schools did not have enough money to buy masks and sanitisers, among other protective requirements. If this being the case, some schools certainly still need time to prepare and wait for the protective gear to arrive before they can invite the children back in school. Admittedly, by now most urban and peri-urban schools had most likely received their protective equipment since they are within reach. But the same cannot be said of schools in far flung areas where roads might be in a bad condition and the same goes for some private schools. But this is where airlifting of the materials by the Zambia Air Force comes handy if schools have to beat the opening day.  One can only hope and pray Government had planned for this, otherwise, affected schools would only open once they received the face masks and sanitisers. While schools may have prepared in terms of ensuring toilets were clean and water and sanitisers were available, pupils cannot enter the premises without face masks. The same can be said of private schools that have been hit by financial blues. It’s therefore prudent for the government and other donors to come on board to help private schools that were unable to buy face masks and sanitisers for their pupils. Shouldn’t some of the face masks being produced at MulungushiTextiles in Kabwe also be dished out to private schools or was it a question of communication breakdown or an oversight? It will be unfair for some schools to open while others are struggling to acquire protective gear for the pupils. We urge Government to quickly look into the issue of private schools that are unable to afford sanitisers and face masks so that pupils in those schools are not left behind. The Sun