Zambia: Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima announced that the reopening of schools and colleges has been further postponed to February 12, 2024. The postponement of the opening dates comes due to the widespread of cholera crisis currently affecting Zambia.
The cholera crisis has claimed several lives in various districts of the country. People are being urged to take precautionary measures to ensure that the spread of the infection can be contained.
One precautionary measure is closing schools to ensure that the hygiene and sanitation situation does not lead to widespread infection among the children.
The authorities are working diligently to ensure that postponing the opening of educational institutions does not have adverse consequences for the students.
Syakalima said the school calendar for private, government, and school and college students has been adjusted to compensate for the lost time. The Minister of Education made the announcement during an interaction with the media.
“Schools and colleges will open for term one on Monday 12th February 2024 and will close on Friday 26th April 2024. And then for term two Schools and colleges will open on Monday 6th May 2024 and will close on Friday 9th August 2024,” Syakalima said
While talking to the media persons during a press briefing held in Lusaka, the Minister announced, “The decision was arrived at following the advice from the National Disaster Management and Mitigation Council of ministers meeting that was held today, January 24.”
He added that all alternative methods of education provided by the Ministry of Education should be utilized in order to ensure that learners are kept busy.
He called on the community to work with the government in the fight against cholera.
On 4 January 2024, the Minister of Education announced the postponement of the date of reopening of Schools from 8 to 29 January 2024 due to the cholera outbreak in the country.