School Heads: We Can't Put Pupils In Danger

School heads who turned away pupils when schools reopened on Monday said they did not want to risk the health of learners as they had no thermometers, sanitisers or face masks.

Several school heads told the Chronicle on condition of anonymity that they were still waiting for personal protective equipment (PPEs) from Government and extra teachers to take other classes. One of the school heads said:

We can’t put these pupils in danger. We don’t have enough thermometers, sanitisers, masks and the idea of attending two classes since one class is divided into two is not going on well with teachers.

So, the pupils have been turned away as we wait for the Ministry to provide the PPE and extra teachers to take other classes.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education director of communications and advocacy, Taungana Ndoro, said they were yet to receive a detailed report following the reopening of schools on Monday.

Ndoro however, said the provincial education directors and district education officers were on the ground assessing the situation.

He admitted that there could have been cases where pupils were turned away for various reasons but said the ministry was working on the issues.

More: Chronicle