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The following text is based on a story written by Samuel Kadungure a senior

reporter of the Manica post and it was taken from the same newspaper .The story
was published from 18 to 24 June 2021 .Well , the story is titled “Teachers defy
holiday lesson lessons ban ’’, this story was plotted in Manicaland province
covering areas like Mutare , Buhera , Rusape , Chipinge , Chimanimani and
Nyanga .

To begin with , according to the writer teachers are continuing holiday lessons
despite the government’s law to stop as a measure to curb Covid 19 .While the
government has banned face to face lessons in schools , colleges and private
institutions .Due to this , private tutoring has risen in public places like churches
and even beer halls .As we take a deep look at the situation these days it is quiet
sure that this is happening especially with students who are about to sit for their
exams .The writer has pointed out that despite the laws put by the government as
measures to curb covid 19 tutoring continues .This is probably a result of less time
, teachers have little time to cover up work and syllabuses as well as prepare the
students for the upcoming exams .As a result teachers are creating crowds as
students gather to acquire education and also to be guided on how to answer the
coming exams .The bitterness of this fact however can be seen on either the
students or the teachers , I think protective clothing is the main issue that has risen
voices of writers and other responsible authorities .Students are too ignorant and
others do not follow the regulations of this pandemic .The writer failed to write
about this yet even if holiday lessons are allowed , protective clothing is what
matters most .As this is a means of protecting themselves from the deadly virus the
writer must have mentioned this .

To add on this , the teachers are not alone in this practice as the writer mention a
statement that “Some parents are even offering space in their homes for the
tutors .”For the sake of their children parents , guardians and teachers have to
violate covid 19 regulations .This help us to understand that teachers are doing this
for the sake of the student’s future because they are not doing this for selfish
reasons and also that parents are giving teachers pressure to conduct these
lessons .Samuel Kadungure unmask the behavior if some teachers who take
advantage of the situation and demand extra fees even for normal lessons which is
very bad .Failure to pay the fee results in either being neglected or being a victim
of failure .Logically , this happens in schools as teachers are complaining about
their salary and they want to cover up their salary using money from parents yet
other people can’t afford to pay such fees which are normally paid in forex .Due to
this pandemic the informal sector which include vending has halted yet this is the
source of many parents , as a result the holiday lessons will be ceased by the lack
of money .All this blame we can give it to the teacher as the writer mentioned here
“Complaints have been raised on how teachers abuse the practice for personal
enrichment .”

To stretch further , the writer mentioned the idea of open distance and e-learning
strategies as a solution for the defying of holiday lessons .This is a good idea as
crowds will be limited as students and teacher will not meet face to face but meet
online on platforms like zoom and other social media online platforms .This a good
idea but its weakness is internet coverage and technological problems as well as
poverty .This idea apply to those who live in areas with internet coverage and also
to those with cell phones and computers yet few people owns these
possessions .Due to the situation in the country at the moment , in my opinion I
think that students must take these lessons and also the government must allow
each and every student to attend these lesson with protective clothing like masks
and also to sanitize their hands .The government must put other measures to those
who violate these rules while students attend their lessons .

Manicaland Provincial Director M r Shumba also regarded the idea of holiday

lesson as an illegal act .Meeting of students and teachers at their homes and in
public places is regarded illegal but Mr Shumba further explained that he has no
right to interfere in such cases because it is the responsibility of the public
police .It is straight and open that the teachers are trying their best to help students
to achieve their goals .On my opinion it is very wise to allow teachers to help
students as examinations are around the corner , the students are at stake as no time
is left until the exams come .A good idea will be to allow each teacher to have a
few number of students or sharing about ten students per teacher .This will help the
students much and is better than quarreling over the issue without solving it .The
students’ performance is deteriorating each time which is a very bad situation , a
result will be school dropouts .More learning time is needed to accomplish more
syllabuses and important facts .Teachers defying holiday lessons ban should never
be arrested as this will affect students’ pass rate , preventative measures should be
put in place and continuing holiday lessons .The pandemic is increasing each day
so preventative measures will help .

In a nutshell , it can be concluded that defying of holiday lessons ban by teachers is

happening everywhere in Zimbabwe .The main reason for this being that , they are
trying to cover syllabuses before the exams are written as they are around the
corner yet students are under lockdown regulations .On the other hand online
learning is too difficult due to the problems of internet coverage , lack of
possessions like cell phones , laptops and computers .Pressure from parents also
make the teachers to continue teaching students as they are fighting for the future
of their children .However protective clothes should be in place since crowds
encourage the transmission of this disease .

REFFERENCES
Manica post newspaper 18-24 June 2021.Mutare