Calvin Manika
MANY parents in Hwange district have opted to send their children for extra lessons as schools remain closed owing to the Covid 19 induced lockdown.
Government closed schools in April this year as part of the measures to curb the spread of the ravaging pandemic.
While government mooted radio lessons, most children in Hwange have missed out on the initiative owing to lack of radio infrastructure in the coal mining town.
Noticing the gap, parents saw it wise to keep their children abreast with the syllabuses.
A snap survey on Tuesday morning on most sections of Empumalanga suburb, it looked like a normal school day as children were seen carrying satchels on their way to their home classes.
This is despite that government banned extra lessons as part of the measures to control the pandemic.
The survey further revealed that many children from poor families are not able to attend extra lessons as they cannot afford.
Lessons which range from US$10 to US$20 per month depending on the level and number of subjects are conducted mainly by government teachers who are on a long holiday.
Regardless of costs some fear that extra lessons can be mini super spreaders of the novel coronavirus if left unattended.
“It’s a catch 22 situation, there is Covid-19 killing people. But, if you cannot let your child go, it’s like you are also killing his future as he will be left behind. In some cases the extra lessons online and physical are conducted by the same class teacher, so it’s like you are missing class,” said Martha Ndlovu.
One of the parents who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said she cannot afford the data bundles for online lessons and the monthly fees.
“Our challenge is money, most of us here are vendors and our husbands do part time jobs, so it’s hard to send our children for online lessons or the risky physical lessons. We cannot afford. Personally, I help my child to read and write, which I believe are the basics.”
Tsitsi Masengure, a legal officer with the Justice for Children said education is a right for all children but the pandemic has disrupted the traditional way of education leaving some vulnerable. “Children are entitled to the right of education, but of late many children from poor backgrounds cannot afford the extra dollar for an extra lesson. The government should see to it that all children are accessing education when they are out of school. It’s our duty to see that the rights of a child are not infringed by economic and social factors,” said Masengure
