REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE OPENING OF

SCHOOLS FOR TERM ONE 2024 IN VIEW OF THE OUTBREAK OF
CHOLERA AROUND THE COUNTRY

JANUARY, 2024

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AS ANNOUNCED BY THE HONORABLE MINISTER OF HEALTH, THROUGH
A PRESS STATEMENT DATED 14TH DECEMBER, 2023, THE COUNTRY HAS IN
THE RECENT PAST SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE CHOLERA CASES AND
SUBSEQUENT DEATHS DUE TO THE DISEASE.

FROM THE TIME THE FIRST CASE WAS REPORTED IN EASTERN PROVINCE,
THE CHOLERA CASES HAVE INCREASED AND SPREAD TO MOST PARTS
OF THE COUNTRY.

IN ORDER TO PREVENT AND MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE, THE

GOVERNMENT HAS PUT IN PLACE MEASURES AFFECTING DIFFERENT
WINGS OF SOCIETY INCLUDING THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION.

WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEGATIVE

IMPACT PANDEMICS HAVE HAD ON THE EDUCATION SECTOR IN THE
PAST, SAFEGUARDING THE LIVES OF SCHOOL COMMUNITIES REMAINS
A PRIORITY. IT IS FOR THIS THE NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND
MITIGATION COUNCIL OF MINISTERS, AT ITS MEETING ON WEDNESDAY
3RD JANUARY 2024, DECIDED THAT:

1. ALL PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AIDED AND COMMUNITY LEARNING

INSTITUTIONS (EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE) CENTRES,
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS REMAIN CLOSED FOR A
FURTHER THREE WEEKS AFTER THE OFFICIAL OPENING DATE OF 8TH
JANUARY, 2024. THIS MEANS THAT SCHOOLS WILL ONLY OPEN ON
MONDAY, 29TH JANUARY, 2024. FURTHER, THE GRACE PERIOD
WHICH WAS EARLIER GIVEN TO GRADES EIGHT (8) AND TEN (10)
LEARNERS HAS NOW BEEN OVERTAKEN AND ALL LEARNERS ARE
EXPECTED TO OPEN ON 29TH JANUARY, 2024
2. THEREFORE, IN ORDER TO CATCH UP ON THE TIME LOST, THE FIRST
TERM HOLIDAYS WILL ONLY RUN FOR ONE (1) WEEK INSTEAD OF
FOUR (4) WEEKS; IMPLYING THAT SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE FOR TERM
ONE ON 26TH APRIL INSTEAD OF 5TH APRIL, 2024, AND OPEN FOR
TERM TWO (2) AS SCHEDULED ON 6TH MAY, 2024.

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I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADVISE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS TO
ENSURE THAT THEY PREPARE THEIR CHILDREN FOR TERM TWO EVEN
BEFORE TERM ONE CLOSES, IN VIEW OF THE SHORT HOLIDAY TIME.

DURING THE PROLONGED CLOSURE, ALL LEARNING INSTITUTIONS

SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY CLEANED UP, HAVE CLEAN WATER AND
SANITATION FACILITIES, ADEQUATE HAND WASHING POINTS,
DETERGENTS AND DISINFECTANTS IN ADDITION TO THE PROVISIONS OF
THE PREVENTIVE GUIDELINES ALREADY IN SCHOOLS. LEARNING
INSTITUTIONS SHOULD MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF HYGIENE AT BOTH
PERSONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL LEVELS AS GUIDED BY THE MINISTRY OF
HEALTH.

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, SCHOOL INSPECTIONS AND

SENSITIZATIONS WILL BE INTENSIFIED AT ALL LEVELS IN ORDER TO ENSURE
COMPLIANCE TO THE ABOVE GUIDELINES.

IN THE MEANTIME, IN ORDER TO KEEP THE LEARNERS BUSY DURING THIS

EXTENDED CLOSURE, THE MINISTRY WISHES TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS
AND GUARDIANS TO ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO MAKE USE OF THE
AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVE MODES OF LEARNING PROVIDED BY THE
MINISTRY, WHICH INCLUDE:

I. ZAMBIA NATIONAL BROADCASTING COOPERATION

(ZNBC) TELEVISION ON EDU TV CHANNEL
II. INTERNET BASED PLATFORM ON LEARNINGPASSPORT
AND
III. NOTESMASTER

PLEASE NOTE THAT MY MINISTRY HAS TAKEN A CAUTIOUS APPROACH

TO REOPENING OUR SCHOOLS AND FOR THIS REASON, I AM CALLING
FOR CONSERTED EFFORT FROM ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN ENSURING THAT
OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE AND READY TO REOPEN.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION. GOD BLESS YOU