Thread by @263Chat

#Twimbos Below is a thread of the Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (ZIMTA)'s Open Letter.
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@zimta01:Opening of Schools premature, Period!

@mhtestd
@edmnangagwa
@nickmangwana
@MoHCCZim
@WHO_Zimbabwe

@zimta01:The recent announcement by the Head of State, President @edmnangagwa regarding the reopening of schools to examination classes has left most forward thinking educationists shell shocked.
#263Chat #Twimbos #Zimbabwe

@zimta01: Re-opening of schools whilst hordes of people from the diaspora are being bused in from #coronavirus infested regions might be just as good as opening Pandora’s box.

#263Chat #LockdownZim

@zimta01:Sadly, this announcement is in direct conflict with the situation obtaining on the ground where schools are being used as #Covid19Zim quarantine centres.

@zimta01:The quarantine process of returnees has been marred by the huge influx of boarder jumpers who are taking advantage of some of the countries' porous boarder posts, leaving the country vulnerable to further infections.
#263Chat #Covid19ZIM

@zimta01:Taking a closer look at the Zimbabwean education set up vis-a-vis @WHO guidelines on social distancing,we can already see that there is conflict.Average classes have a teacher to pupil ratio of about 1:60 and such a large class cannot ensure effective social distancing

@zimta01:The alternative would be to split the class which in turn requires the employment of another teacher. Without effective social distancing in schools, these institutions will easily turn into high infection zones with catastrophic results.
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@zimta01:Government needs to attend to that before there is any talk of re-opening schools.
#263Chat #LockdownZim

@ParliamentZim
@MoHCCZim
@edmnangagwa
@mhtestd

@zimta01:Availability of Personal Protective Equipment(PPEs) in schools is another area of concern.Looking at the way Government has handled industry by merely giving instruction without the financial backing in regards to the issue of testing employees,leaves a lot to be desired

@zimta01: Schools most of which have dried up coffers are in no position to avail PPEs to Educators and pupils leaving this burden in the hands of Government.
#263Chat #Twimbos
@parliamentzim
@MoHCCZim
@mhtestd

@zimta01: Other schools of thought are encouraging the government to transfer the burden of PPEs to parents however the extended lockdown has left most households poorer than before as all informal traders are still banned from conducting any business activities.

@zimta01: Teachers who are the main characters in the administration of classes lack the technical and critical skills regarding the detection and handling of #coronavirus cases.

@MoHCCZim
@mhtestd