The government has approved vacation school during the August holiday for exam classes to help educators catch up with the syllabus. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education granted this approval in a circular to various stakeholders. “Therefore, for the year 2024, AUTHORITY IS GRANTED for schools to conduct vacation school during the August holidays for the examination classes of Grade 7, Form Four (4), and Upper Six (6),” stated the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry.The vacation school will run from 19 August to 30 August 2024. The Ministry set the vacation school charges at US$2.00 per Learning Area for Grade 7 pupils or its equivalent bank rate in Zimbabwe Gold currency (ZWG). Secondary Schools will charge USD$3.00 per Learning Area for Form Four (4) and USD$5.00 per Learning Area for Upper Six (6) or its equivalent bank rate in ZWG. Boarding fees have been set at USD$4.00 per day during the vacation school period.The Ministry will closely monitor the vacation school to ensure compliance with guidelines. During the vacation school, pupils should wear their school uniforms, and teachers should be appropriately dressed. Schools have been directed to adhere to the tenets of Safe to Learn principles. Every effort should be made to engage parents and/or guardians so that all candidates benefit from the vacation school.Funds raised from the vacation school will be used as directed by the Ministry: 30% of the funds should be allocated for stationery and learning materials, 20% should be directed towards administrative expenses, and 50% should be set aside for teacher appreciation.The authorisation of vacation school is a welcome development aimed at ensuring candidates get good grades in the forthcoming examinations. School authorities are urged to fully utilize this opportunity for the betterment of the pupils.
