National Union of Public and Private Educators of Zambia (NUPPEZ) says government should have consulted stakeholders in the education sector before revising the School calendar.
Union President Victor Muyumba told Money FM News in an interview that the revised calendar has brought a lot of despondence among the teachers because they will not be able to rest for the next six months.
“The Ministry of General Education should have consulted more widely than unilaterally coming up with what they thought was going to be expedient for all stakeholders.”
In as much as teachers are supposed to work throughout, this calendar has brought a lot of despondence among the teachers because it entails no rest for them for the next six months or so, it’s not healthy. Most of them are in institutions of learning and they are supposed to pursue their studies. It is going to create a lot of panic, not only among the teachers but also the learners,” Mr. Muyumba said.
Mr. Muyumba is of the view that the only grades that government would have planned for in a different manner are those going into grade 9 next year, and those in grade 11 getting into grade 12.
He added that most topics for pupils in lower grades are similar, hence it will not be difficult for them to catch up.
“The only grade that would probably be planned for in a different manner are those that are in grade 8 this year going into Grade 9 next year, and those in Grade 11 getting into grade 12.Those are the ones whose calendar would have been looked at and probably modified so that they do not lose in any way.”
“Someone who is in Grade two, what is it that they are catching up that they cannot not catch up in grade 5? Most of these topics if anything are similar and almost the same. Since when did term three come in March? When are going to start term one? Are we changing the Calendar that this is how it’s going to be?” he wondered.

And Mr. Muyumba appealed to teachers across the country not to panic when it comes to teaching but attend to all learners according to their Intelligence Quotient (IQ) so as not to turn the education system into a burden for the pupils.
“And our appeal to the teachers is don’t panic when it comes to teaching, we are not racing, we are not cruising for anybody, we teach in order for the children to understand. So let’s take our time, we know we have a lot of slow learners, but can we attend to each and every learner according to the pace and the IQ which they have so that we do not turn this education system into a burden for the children,” Mr. Muyumba said.
Mr. Ministry of General Education has revised the School Calendar following disruptions caused by Covid-19.
Ministry Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Dr. Jobbicks Kalumba disclosed yesterday that term three for non-examination classes will open on 4th January, 2021 and close on19th March, 2021, while term one for all grades in 2021 opens on Monday, 29th March 2021.